Gilcrease Museum is temporarily closed for construction.

Get the Full Story

Yellow ochre in a leather bag / Native American; Plains

Essay/Description

Yellow ochre in a leather bag.

In many native American cultures, and cultures all over the world, ochre is a sacred substance used for painting both people and objects. The color of the ochre, typically yellow, red, blue, or brown, were all symbolic in certain contexts and often believed to produce sacred powers in the wearer.

The processing of ochre is very complicated and after being reduced to a fine powder is treated though heat and fire. This heating process is what produces the various colors of ochre.

You may be interested in...

Title(s): 
Yellow ochre in a leather bag
Culture: 
Native American; Plains
Date: 
circa 1900
Period: 
Historic
Place: 
Great Plains, United States of America
Materials/Techniques: 
leather, pigment
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
89.27
Department: 
Not On View

Our Online Collections site is a work in progress. If you have information about this item that may be of assistance, please contact us.