Harding Big Bow
Mr. Big Bow was a roadman and organizational leader in the Native American Church, having served as the President of the Native American Church of Oklahoma. He was also an easel painter in the Kiowa style. He was the co-organizer of the exhibition project that became "Symbols of Faith and Belief: The Art of the Native American Church" alongside Gilcrease Senior Curator at the time Daniel Swan. After his death, his wife Pearl Big Bow gave his NAC equipment and other objects to Gilcrease Museum. Mr. Big Bow's life work, and art are described in various publications, especially Dan Swan's (1999) "Peyote religious Art", Jackson: University of Mississippi; (1990) Southern Plains Indian Museum and Crafts Center: Symbolic Paintings by Harding Big Bow, Anadarko.
| Image | Creator | Culture | Medium | Dimensions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Cedar flute with leather and painted decoration | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | wood, leather, metal, paint | 2 15/16 x 1 7/16 x 19 7/8 in. (7.4 x 3.7 x 50.5 cm) |
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Black and silver Native American Church crucifix with sterling silver chain | Unidentified, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Osage | wood, metal | Overall (a - crucifix): 6 × 3 1/2 in. (15.2 × 8.9 cm) Overall (b - chain): 48 in. (121.9 cm) |
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Handmade brass peyote button box with diamond stamp and turquoise | Unidentified, Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Southwest (artist), Kiowa (user) | brass, sage, turquoise | Overall: 1 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (3.8 × 6.4 × 6.4 cm) |
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Wooden drumstick with cross hatching | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | wood | Overall: 13 × 1/2 in. (33 × 1.3 cm) |
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Wooden drumstick with cross hatching | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | wood | Overall: 12 1/2 × 1/2 in. (31.8 × 1.3 cm) |
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Wooden drumstick with cross hatching | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | wood | Overall: 12 1/2 × 1/2 in. (31.8 × 1.3 cm) |
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Bundle of sage stems and leaves wrapped in masking tape | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | sage, masking tape, thread | Overall: 13 × 1/2 in. (33 × 1.3 cm) |
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Eagle tail feather loose fan | Nelson Big Bow, Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | feathers (eagle), glass, cotton, hide, wood, fur, metal | Overall: 27 × 19 in. (68.6 × 48.3 cm) |
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Anhinga feather loose fan with hackle trim | Warren White, Pearl Big Bow, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | feathers (anhinga), hide, glass, cotton | Overall: 28 1/2 × 14 in. (72.4 × 35.6 cm) |
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Peyote fan with beaded handle and scissortail feathers. | Nelson Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | feathers (scissortail), hide, glass, metal, wood, cotton | Overall: 26 1/2 × 9 1/2 in. (67.3 × 24.1 cm) |
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Macaw loose feather fan | Phil (Joe Fish) Dupoint, Pearl Big Bow, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | feathers (macaw, chicken), hide, glass, cotton, chrome | Overall: 30 × 8 in. (76.2 × 20.3 cm) |
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Gourd rattle with beaded wooden handle | Delbert Johnson, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Navajo (Diné) (artist), Kiowa (user) | gourd, wood, glass, horse hair | Overall: 24 × 2 in. (61 × 5.1 cm) |
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Eagle bone whistle with black velvet pouch | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American | bone | Overall (A - whistle): 8 × 1/2 in. (20.3 × 1.3 cm) Overall (B - pouch): 6 1/2 × 1 in. (16.5 × 2.5 cm) |
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Golden eagle feather | Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | feather (golden eagle) | Overall: 14 × 2 3/4 in. (35.6 × 7 cm) |
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Maroon suede altar cloth with navy backed taffeta and gold embroidery | Unidentified, Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa (user) | cloth, cotton | Overall: 17 × 22 1/2 in. (43.2 × 57.2 cm) |
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Native American Church loose feather fan | Nelson Big Bow, Rod Pistokcha, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa (artist), Choctaw (artist) | feathers, leather, glass, wood, fabric, ribbon | Feathers: 10 1/2 × 11 3/16 in. (10 1/2 in., 28.4 cm) Handle: 3/4 × 4 1/8 in. (1.9 × 10.5 cm) Fringe: 7 1/16 in. (17.9 cm) |
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Native American Church kettle drum and bag | Unidentified, Pearl Big Bow, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | iron, hide (naugahide) | Overall: 13 1/2 × 13 1/4 in. (34.3 × 33.7 cm) |
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Native American Church kettle drum | Unidentified, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | iron, hide | Overall: 7 1/4 × 9 1/4 in. (18.4 × 23.5 cm) |
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Carrying bag for Native American Church kettle drum | Unidentified, Pearl Big Bow, Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | naugahide | Overall: 13 1/2 × 13 1/4 in. (34.3 × 33.6 cm) |
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Fan with beaded handle and feather quills wrapped in hide | Ernest Mihecoby, Nelson Big Bow, Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Comanche (artist), Kiowa (artist), Kiowa (user) | feather, hide, glass | Overall: 23 1/2 × 7 in. (59.7 × 17.8 cm) |
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Peyote box with painted decorations | Johnny Hoof, Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow | Native American; Arapaho (artist), Kiowa (user) | hide, metal, paint | Overall: 7 × 21 1/2 × 7 in. (17.8 × 54.6 × 17.8 cm) |
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Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa cape decorated with military name and hand print outlines | Harding Big Bow, Unidentified | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | cotton, silk, plastic or metal, glue | Cape: 52 × 28 in. (132.1 × 71.1 cm) |
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Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa man's red apron with silk trimming | Harding Big Bow, Unidentified | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | cotton, silk | Overall: 28 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (72.4 × 21.6 cm) |
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Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa man's red cloth apron with silk ribbon trimming | Harding Big Bow, Unidentified | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | cotton, silk | Overall: 32 1/2 × 9 1/2 in. (82.6 × 24.1 cm) |
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Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa cotton cloth legging with stirrup attachment | Harding Big Bow, Unidentified | Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) | cotton | Leggings: 30 × 13 in. (76.2 × 33 cm) |
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Wooden peyote staff carved and polished in a wooden oval | Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | wood, glass, horsehair, cotton, hide | Overall: 40 1/2 × 1 in. (102.9 × 2.5 cm) |
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Peyote ancestors | Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | tempera on mat board | Overall: 17 9/16 × 25 1/4 in. (44.6 × 64.2 cm) |
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Peyote Vision | Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | acrylic | Overall: 15 1/8 x 22 7/16 in. (38.4 x 57 cm) |
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Peyote Symbols | Harding Big Bow | Native American; Kiowa | tempera on matboard | Overall: 15 3/8 x 15 2/4 in. (39 x 42.5 cm) |