Native American Church loose feather fan / Nelson Eddie Big Bow

Essay/Description

Mexican eagle feather loos fan of 12 feathers tightly tied "flat". Base of feathers are wrapped with dyed hackles in green, red, white, and black. The ribbon is black, red, white, silver. The extensions are wrapped in white buckskin. The fan is one piece; the handle does not remove. The handle is beaded in gourd stitch in cut and seed beads in red, yellow, maroon, white, navy, orange, and green on a blue background. 11 2-ply twisted fringes of white buckskin attach at the base of the handle.

Curatorial Remarks

This is a stiff fan, not loose feather fan. Stiff fans were used during dances to cool the individual off.

Tags: Native American Church, peyote fan, red, green, white, ribbon, beaded handle, leather fringe, glass beads
People: Kiowa, Nelson Big Bow, Rod Pistokcha, Harding Big Bow
Places: 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 loose feather fan

Creator(s):

Nelson Eddie Big Bow (Artist)

Rod Pistokcha (Artist)

Harding Big Bow (Used by)

Culture:

Native American; Kiowa (artist), Choctaw (artist)

Date:

1950 - 1995

Materials/Techniques:

feathers, leather, glass, wood, fabric, ribbon

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Ceremonial/Ritual Objects

Object Type:

Fan

Credit Line:

Gift of Pearl Big Bow

Accession No:

84.2897

Previous Number(s):

TL1997.73.3; TL1997.73.3

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Other (Feathers):

Width: 10 1/2in. (10.50000in.)
Length: 11 3/16in. (28.4cm)

Other (Handle):

Width: 0 3/4in. (1.9cm)
Length: 4 9/64in. (10.5cm)

Other (Fringe):

Length: 7 1/16in. (17.9cm)

About the Creator(s)

From Gilcrease Museum:

Creator:

Nelson Big Bow

Biography:

Nelson Big Bow is Harding Big Bow's son.

Role(s):

Artist

From Gilcrease Museum:

Creator:

Rod Pistokcha

Role(s):

Artist

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

Big Bow, Nelson. Native American Church loose feather fan. 84.2897. 1950 - 1995. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/842897 (03/21/2018).

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Native American Church loose feather fan / Nelson Eddie Big Bow

Essay/Description

Curatorial Remarks

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Anthropology Item Information

Dimensions

About the Creator(s)

Tags and Search Terms

Cite this Page