Eagle bone whistle with black velvet pouch / Harding Big Bow

Curatorial Remarks

This a dance bone whistle used for various types of dances. The individual would have been holding the whistle in his mouth, blowing through it while dancing. The whistle is made from bird bone.

Tags: bird bone whistle, pouch, dances
People: Southern Plains
Places: Southern Plains, Oklahoma
Purpose: ceremonial events

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):

Eagle bone whistle with black velvet pouch

Creator(s):

Harding Big Bow (Used by)

Culture:

Native American

Date:

20th century

Place:

Oklahoma

Materials/Techniques:

bone

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Object Type:

Whistle

Credit Line:

Gift of Pearl Big Bow

Accession No:

84.2905a-b

Previous Number(s):

TL1997.73.13; 84.2905 a-b

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall (A - whistle):

Length: 8in. (20.3cm)
Width: 0 1/2in. (1.3cm)

Overall (B - pouch):

Length: 6 1/2in. (16.5cm)
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):

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, Harding. Eagle bone whistle with black velvet pouch. 84.2905a-b. 20th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/842905a-b (10/31/2018).

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