Columbia River Digging Stick Handle

A very elegant elk antler root digging stick handle with fine incised opposing diagonal lines over the entire surface with the exception of the last 2 1/2" at the tip.  The incised lines form a pattern of diamonds.  These elk antler handles were used extensively by the Indian women along the Columbia River east of the Cascades.  This handle has a rectangular opening for fitting it onto the digging stick with a pair of parallel incised lines next to the upper end of the opening.  Other handles I have seen have round openings.  This handle has a dark brown stain over the surface.  This piece is part of a large private collection of really good 19th and early 20th C. Columbia RIver objects.

L. 9 7/8"