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Description

Small wood, black-painted cradle board style baby carrier. U-shaped willow holder held in position by strips of tanned buckskin, accompanied by black cloth cover with canvas lining. String crisscross pattern down centre of cloth piece. Beaded floral designs in red, blue, pink, and green. Majority of flowers are clear beads. Edges lined with transparent blue and clear bead lines. Top of board is carved in wave design. Top's centre has heart-shaped hole. Above hole, bent band of wood with dip in centre is lashed twice, at both sides, with buckskin strips and held in place by a wood strip placed underneath board and nailed in three places. Inside is unpainted.

Narrative

Received from Mrs. H. C. Holmes.

History Of Use

Board made from willow, cherry, or sumac. Traditionally, buckskin was used; later, canvas. Ornamentation symbolically gives blessing to baby. Made by women. Father's mother or closest elder relative sponsors up to six women to make the cradle board. Given to mother before baby's birth or in ceremony after baby is born. Traditionally, each was used only for one child. Later, they were passed down through the family. Also, traditionally, after a child outgrew its cradle, the piece was ceremonially dismantled. The board could be rested against a tree or hung when the mother was not carrying the baby on her back. Attached by buckskin band across chest and upper arms. Could be fastened to travois when the camp moved. The technique was taught to small girls through accurate reproductions in miniature, which they used as playthings. A U-shaped cradle board was more prominent among northwestern groups.

Cultural Context

For carrying babies.