Rawhide Box Item Number: 89.52.7 from the Portland Art Museum
Description
Plains Indian people frequently made lightweight rawhide containers to hold a variety of objects. Flat envelopes and cylinders were the most common shapes, although the Lakota frequently made boxes. As part of their household duties, women laboriously made and decorated these containers from buffalo hide or cowhide that had been dried and scraped of their hair. Once the rawhide was processed, it was cut into a predetermined pattern and then folded and laced into shape. Painted geometric designs usually ornament the rawhide containers.
Collection History Provenance
The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.
Item History
- Made by Lakota artist during 1885
What
- Name
- Rawhide Box
- Identification Number
- 89.52.7
- Type of Item
- box
- Material
- rawhide hide, paint and leather ty
- Overall
- height 14.0 in, width 14.0 in, depth 22.0 in
Who
- Culture
- Lakota
- Creator
- Lakota artist
Where
- Holding Institution
- Portland Art Museum
- Made in
- “Plains” ?
When
- Creation Date
- during 1885
Other
- Categories
- Plains; Containers and Vessels