Peyote fan with beaded handle and scissortail feathers. / Nelson Eddie Big Bow

Essay/Description

A loose fan tied flat style made of 65 scissortail flycatcher feathers decorated with dyed hackles at their base in teal, yellow, and red. Shoe polished white buckskin extensions cover the base of the feathers and attached them to the handle. Two feathers are completely covered in dyed hackles. The (removable) handle is a shotgun rod. Itis covered in gourd stitch beadwork in cut and seed beads in orange, white, navy, red, yellow, light blue, and brown on a turquoise background. white 2-ply twisted buckskin fringe (16) attaches to the base of the handle. A small silver cross is attached to one piece at the base of the handle.

Curatorial Remarks

Loose scissortail feathered peyote fan with beaded handle. The cross charm is attached to the handle rather than the fringe. Mid-to late 20th century.

Tags: scissortail feathers, peyote fan, Native American Church, cross charm, beaded handle, beadwork
People: Nelson Big Bow, Kiowa
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):

Peyote fan with beaded handle and scissortail feathers.

Creator(s):

Nelson Eddie Big Bow (Artist)

Harding Big Bow (Used by)

Culture:

Native American; Kiowa

Date:

20th century

Place:

Oklahoma

Materials/Techniques:

feathers (scissortail), hide, glass, metal, wood, cotton

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Object Type:

Fan

Credit Line:

Gift of Pearl Big Bow

Accession No:

84.2899

Previous Number(s):

TL1997.73.6

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Length: 26 1/2in. (67.3cm)
Width: 9 1/2in. (24.1cm)

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:

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. Peyote fan with beaded handle and scissortail feathers.. 84.2899. 20th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/842899 (10/31/2018).

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