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Wooden cradleboard / Unknown

Essay/Description

Osage mothers carried their babies on carved and painted cradleboards. When in use, cradleboards had U-shaped wooden bows decorated with beadwork or ribbonwork attached above the babies' heads for protection. Babies were wrapped tightly to the boards with wide finger-woven sashes. Propped up in camp while mothers worked, cradleboards provided the babies with comfort, safety, and a clear view of the world.

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Title(s): 
Wooden cradleboard
Creator(s): 
Unknown
Culture: 
Native American; Osage (artist and user)
Date: 
19th century - 20th century
Materials/Techniques: 
wood, pigments, brass
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
73.102
Previous Number(s): 
7326.102
Department: 
Not On View

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