Native American Church kettle drum and bag / Unknown

Essay/Description

(a) Black iron kettle with three tripod legs. The "ears" have been removed. (b) Red naugahide bowling ball with two machine stitched and a zipper opening at the top.

Curatorial Remarks

The head of the drum would have been required to be kept tight, so the marbles allow for the head of the drum to be adjusted during the ceremony. The leather drum head would have been heated over the fire to allow for stretching. The church house would have owned the drum kettle and the drum parts. The drum itself was a standard cast iron kettle of a particular size, and then they would have modified the kettle to suit their needs. Water drums and kettle production became an expensive trade over time. Glass marbles were the common item for use with stretching the leather deer skin hide across the top. Drum marbles and drums were only used during a peyote meeting.

Tags: Native American Church, kettle drum, bag, deer hide
People: Kiowa
Places: Southern Plains, Oklahoma
Purpose: peyote meeting

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology

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Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Native American Church kettle drum and bag

Creator(s):

Unknown

Harding Big Bow (Used by)

Culture:

Native American; Kiowa

Date:

late 20th century

Materials/Techniques:

iron, hide (naugahide)

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Object Type:

Drum and Bag

Credit Line:

Gift of Pearl Big Bow

Accession No:

84.2906a-b

Previous Number(s):

TL1997.73.16a-b

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Length: 13 1/2in. (34.3cm)
Width: 13 1/4in. (33.7cm)

About the Creator(s)

From Gilcrease Museum:

Creator:

Harding Big Bow

Biography:

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.

Role(s):

Used by

From Getty's Union List of Artist Names:

Names (all):

Big Bow, Harding

Birth Date:

1921

Death Date:

1997

Nationalities:

Native American

Roles:

Kiowa painter and flute maker, 1921-1997

Gender:

male

Cite this Page

Unknown. Native American Church kettle drum and bag. 84.2906a-b. late 20th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/842906a-b (09/27/2018).

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