Artist:William Benson
Medium: Elk antler, hide, plant (milkweed) fiber, twine, pigment
Dates:early 20th century
Dimensions: 13 1/2 x 2 in. (34.3 x 5.1 cm)
Collections:
Exhibitions:
Accession Number: 08.491.8668
Image: 08.491.8668.jpg,
Catalogue Description: The Pomo bear-doctor and the dagger he carried have left a trail of confusion in scholarly literature. Dr. Hudson, informant to Stewart Culin, Museum’s curator, summarized as follows. Bear men belong to a secret organization with a representative from each tribe. He preyed on the community and if killed another would be elected in his place. The object of the society was to eliminate undesirable people in the tribe. Bear-doctors were said to have carried one or two daggers of this type with the tips sharpened and rubbed on grinding stones.The realistic style of incising, impeccably rendered does indicate artist provenance to William Benson and has been found on other items know to have been made by Benson. Since several of these have been found in Museum collections, all made by Benson, these are clearly "models" made for the non-Native market.