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Tools and equipment

Hand Crooked Knife (Mocotaugan)

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Type
Tools and equipment(Opens in new tab)
Date
19th Century
Accession number
2016.25.137
Maker
Unknown, American(Opens in new tab) (American)
Dimensions
knife: 1 7/8 x 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. (4.8 x 22.2 x 8.9 cm.) mount: 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (6.4 x 3.8 cm.) overall (with mount): 6 3/8 x 3 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (16.2 x 8.3 x 8.9 cm.)
Medium
wood, iron, cord
Description
Carved wood handle in the form of a hand, thumb meeting finger tips and bent wrist, with metal blade; Northeastern Woodlands.
Credit
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of Jonathan and Karin Fielding
Department
American Art
Find out more
View in the Art Museum catalog(Opens in new tab)
A mocotaugan (crooked knife) is a type of draw knife used by Northeastern Woodlands cultures for carving or making wood splints for baskets. The user graps the wooden handle and draws the metal cutting blade towards the body. Decorative handles with carved figures, such as animals, geometric forms, or even ships figure heads are common. This extraordinary knife is in the shape of a human hand.

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