Golden eagle feather / Harding Big Bow

Curatorial Remarks

Used in peyote meetings. Everyone would have had an individual feather used to fan off any unwanted spiritual corruption during a peyote meeting or peyote rituals. This is for spiritual cleansing. Sometimes the handle is plain, other times it's more elaborate.

Tags: golden eagle feather, brown, white
People: Kiowa, 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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Harding Big Bow

Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Golden eagle feather

Creator(s):

Harding Big Bow (Used by)

Culture:

Native American; Kiowa

Date:

20th century

Place:

Oklahoma

Materials/Techniques:

feather (golden eagle)

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Object Type:

Feather

Credit Line:

Gift of Pearl Big Bow

Accession No:

85.105

Previous Number(s):

TL1997.73.4

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Length: 14in. (35.6cm)
Width: 2 3/4in. (7.0cm)

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. Golden eagle feather. 85.105. 20th century. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/85105 (10/31/2018).

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