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Carved wooden peyote drumstick / Unknown

Essay/Description

A drumstick featuring ball-shaped knobs at each end. The whole stick is slightly flattened in profile. Probably made of maple wood. No design other than the fact that the wood ball at one end is slightly larger than the one at the other end. There are black striations in the blonde colored wood.

Curatorial Remarks

There is tremendous diversity in Native American Church drumsticks. Sometimes they have carved designs, or they may have pieces of glass or jewels set into them as well. Most men have personal drumsticks that are the right weight for their drumming style, and a road man may have multiple drumsticks. Sometimes, they are made out of special wood that has personal significance.

Tags: drumstick
People: Native American Church
Places: Southern Plains, Oklahoma
Purpose: ceremonial events

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

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Title(s): 
Carved wooden peyote drumstick
Creator(s): 
Unknown
Whitesell Bigmoon Collection (Collection)
Culture: 
Native American; Osage (artist and user)
Date: 
20th century
Materials/Techniques: 
wood
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Credit Line: 
Gift of Mr and Mrs. John R. Whitesell and Sons
Accession No: 
73.745
Previous Number(s): 
TL1997.45.4
Department: 
Not On View

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