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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
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)
Black and silver Native American Church crucifix with sterling silver chain Unknown, 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)
Handmade brass peyote button box with diamond stamp and turquoise Unknown, 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Maroon suede altar cloth with navy backed taffeta and gold embroidery Unknown, Harding Big Bow, Pearl Big Bow Native American; Kiowa (user) cloth, cotton Overall: 17 × 22 1/2 in. (43.2 × 57.2 cm)
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)
Native American Church kettle drum and bag Unknown, 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)
Native American Church kettle drum Unknown, Harding Big Bow Native American; Kiowa iron, hide Overall: 7 1/4 × 9 1/4 in. (18.4 × 23.5 cm)
Carrying bag for Native American Church kettle drum Unknown, Pearl Big Bow, Harding Big Bow Native American; Kiowa naugahide Overall: 13 1/2 × 13 1/4 in. (34.3 × 33.6 cm)
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)
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)
Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa cape decorated with military name and hand print outlines Harding Big Bow, Unknown Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) cotton, silk, plastic or metal, glue Cape: 52 × 28 in. (132.1 × 71.1 cm)
Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa man's red apron with silk trimming Harding Big Bow, Unknown Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) cotton, silk Overall: 28 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (72.4 × 21.6 cm)
Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa man's red cloth apron with silk ribbon trimming Harding Big Bow, Unknown Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) cotton, silk Overall: 32 1/2 × 9 1/2 in. (82.6 × 24.1 cm)
Black Leggings Society of the Kiowa cotton cloth legging with stirrup attachment Harding Big Bow, Unknown Native American; Kiowa (artist and user) cotton Leggings: 30 × 13 in. (76.2 × 33 cm)
Wooden peyote staff carved and polished in a wooden oval Harding Big Bow, Harding Big Bow Collection Native American; Kiowa wood, glass, horsehair, cotton, hide Overall: 40 1/2 × 1 in. (102.9 × 2.5 cm)
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)
Peyote Vision Harding Big Bow Native American; Kiowa acrylic Overall: 15 1/8 x 22 7/16 in. (38.4 x 57 cm)
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)