Wooden peyote staff carved and polished in a wooden oval / Harding Big Bow

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Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Wooden peyote staff carved and polished in a wooden oval

Creator(s):

Harding Big Bow (Collection)

Harding Big Bow Collection (Collection)

Culture:

Native American; Kiowa

Date:

20th century

Materials/Techniques:

wood, glass, horsehair, cotton, hide

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Object Type:

Staff

Credit Line:

Gift of Pearl Big Bow

Accession No:

84.2895a-b

Previous Number(s):

TL1997.30; 84.2895 a-b

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Length: 40 1/2in. (102.9cm)
Width: 1in. (2.5cm)

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):

Collection

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

From Gilcrease Museum:

Creator:

Harding Big Bow Collection

Role(s):

Collection

Cite this Page

Big Bow, Harding. Wooden peyote staff carved and polished in a wooden oval. 84.2895a-b. 20th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/842895a-b (02/21/2018).

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