Henry L. Batterman Fund

It is possible that this was a school piece made as an exercise or under supervision because this type of loom work was done under Mission Schools around the Great Lakes. Loom woven with cotton thread is an 8-point star pattern in pink, blue, yellow, red and navy. The design looks like it came from a pattern book and is not finished.

This shirt is part of Frank Hamilton Cushing's legendary Zuni outfit. Cushing was sent to Zuni in 1879 as part of the Bureau of Ethnology's collecting expedition. He chose to remain in Zuni, adopted Zuni dress and customs, learned the language and became a memebr of the bow priesthood. See "Objects of Myth and Memoery catalogue," pp. 143-144.

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

Brooklyn Museum

Ogre's Uncle (Oötsawihazru) Kachina Doll. This is a tall, slim Kachina with a large, snarling snout, red lips with open, teeth filled jaws. His mask has long, curved, green and black striped horns on either side of the head, and black goggle eyes. The back of his head has a feather bundle and he wears a fur ruff around his neck. He wears western style white pants, a concho belt with studs with turquoise circles painted in them and a purple, tailored shirt with painted white buttons. He wears painted tall, red boots with real yarn ties at the top. His PR hand is raised brandishing a bloody knife. His PL hand carries a bow (broken). He has a real hide cape tied in the front under his PR arm but he is totally carved with details underneath the cape. As an Ogre's Uncle he is a little more patient than the Black Ogres, not as active but still fearsome. Ogres (Soo'so'yoktu) appear during the ceremonies in the last stages of the Powamuya usually held in February depicting the final stages of the world's creation where Kachina spirits are implored to carry out the purification of life.

This shirt is very early, pre 1830s Blackfoot. The fringe along the sleeves and shirttail is the remnants of ermine and bits can still be seen. The painted figures of people are probably indicative of dead people or people the warrior killed. Should be called a War Shirt not a dress shirt. The quillwork is bird quill. Quillwork is similar to Mandan Hidatsa. Sometimes dots that are rounded indicate hailstones but then they are organized in a scattered fashion more like splashes. There are many anomalies in the quill/bead design.

Museum Collection Fund

This cap was part of Brooklyn Museum curator Stewart Culin's personal collection but was originally owned by Frank Hamilton Cushing as part of his own Zuni clothing that he wore. Cushing's acceptance into the Zuni Bow Society was the culmination of his career. Cushing believed the Bow Priesthood to be the most powerful, elaborately organized of all associations. This cap of perforated buckskin is one of the badges of office in the priesthood. It is exceptionally finely crafted.

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund