ENGRAVING AND INCISING TOOLS more -->
Figure 23 depicts an engraving awl, which can be used to drill holes in wood, and incising tools, which are used for relief carving. Because bone and ivory are not always preserved in sites, they are found in the archaeological record less often that stone tools. Yet we know that for the fine work necessary for carved wooden bowls, masks and other ceremonial objects, these types of tools were used often.
Wood carving knives (see Figure 24) of the distant past were also made from stone blades. Do you think that carving is easier with stone or metal blades? What is the figure carved on the handle?
Using a small hand maul, the carver would tap the end of the chisel (as seen in Figure 25) and carve out grooves from the wood. Different sized chisels would produce different sized grooves. The end on the right side of Figure 14 is the cutting end.
Cedar bentwood boxes (see Figure 26) are made from one plank of wood, steamed, bent, and painted. On top of the box are small wood carving tools for fine, detail carving. Can you tell what animal this depicts?
The ceremonial bowl pictured in Figure 27, which was used for feasting and potlatch, was carved by Ray Wesley, a Tsimshian artist. Look again at the different tools and try to figure out which tools were used to manufacture and decorate this bowl. What clues do you see that will help you identify this animal as a beaver?
Figure 28 is a birchwood mask trimmed with ermine and human hair and carved and painted by Ken Mowatt. What tools were used to carve this mask? Ermine are small weasels that change their color in winter. Do you think these are winter or summer pelts? Why do you think they are on a mask?
