Which tools did Northwest Coast artists use to carve and polish wood?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Hohokam pottery — Native American art Pottery created by the Hohokam people, made of buff clay and painted with red designs.

Northwest Coast artists utilized a variety of traditional tools to shape and finish their wooden creations. To carve wood, they employed implements made of stone, including adzes, mauls, wedges, chisels, and drills, as well as curved knives. Following the introduction of steel, artists incorporated steel cutting knives, which provided greater freedom and precision in their sculptural work.12

For the final stages of production, sharkskin was used to sand or polish the wooden items, ensuring a smooth and refined finish. These techniques allowed for the creation of intricate objects such as totem poles, masks, and containers, which are noted for their emphasis on symmetry and neatness.12