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Leather pouch with beaded tree design in center and a beaded border around bag / Ella Fay Horse (nee Big Bow)

Essay/Description

A soft, rough-cut leather bag hand stitched down one side and across the bottom. It is lined with purple velveteen. The bag is gathered at the top with a leather thong to create a closure. it has a lazy stitch beaded border of that begins one inch in from the stitched side (navy and maroon designs on a sky blue ground). It runs down to 2 inches from the bottom and across the bottom and around to the opposite side where it climbs back up the stitched side. A cedar tree is applique beaded in green just above the bottom border on the front center. Near the bottom of the bag, below the border lane and just above the fringe, there is a second beaded edge treatment forming scallops of blue and red. The opening is edge beaded in blue. 31 rows of amber and gold plastic beads are strung with black glass beads to form a fringe at the bottom. The bag is tied closed with its commercial leather lace and contains dried cedar needles.

Curatorial Remarks

The beaded cedar tree indicates religious meaning.

Tags: leather pouch, beaded design, beaded tree, cedar tree
People: Kiowa
Places: Southern Plains, Oklahoma
Purpose: possibly domestic use or ceremonial events

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

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Title(s): 
Leather pouch with beaded tree design in center and a beaded border around bag
Creator(s): 
Ella Fay Horse (nee Big Bow) (Artist)
Culture: 
Native American; Kiowa
Date: 
20th century
Place: 
Mountain View, Oklahoma
Materials/Techniques: 
hide, glass, cedar
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Credit Line: 
Gift of Pearl Big Bow
Accession No: 
84.2904
Previous Number(s): 
TL1997.73.11
Department: 
Not On View

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