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Feather fan with beaded handle / Unknown

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Curatorial Remarks

In Native American Church meetings, feathers and fans are considered to be purifying and cleansing. They are used to cleanse individuals that attend meetings. It does not make a difference whether it is a single feather or a fan when used for ritual cleansing.
Tags: peyotism, eagle feather, purple, peyote stitch, beadwork
People: Osage
Places: Southern Plains, Oklahoma
Purpose: ceremonial use, peyote meetings

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

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©Gilcrease Museum
Title(s): 
Feather fan with beaded handle
Creator(s): 
Unknown
Culture: 
Native American; Osage (artist and user)
Date: 
1940s
Place: 
Fairfax
Materials/Techniques: 
feather, glass, beaded, buckskin
Classification: 
Ethnographic Objects
Object Type: 
Fan
Accession No: 
84.1169
Previous Number(s): 
8427.1169
Department: 
Anthropology
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