This is a house post made of cedar wood, dark and unpainted. Two figures: supernatural bird, probably a thunderbird, holds a small humanoid figure to its chest area in front of a shield called a "copper". The Supernatural bird has a beak as well as humanoid ears and mouth. The frontal figures are carefully carved in high relief. The back is roughly carved and relatively flat. Condition is generally the best in a set of 4. (see 11.700.2-.3-.4) There are several cracks that include many large vertical cracks, abrasions, losses, scratches, and surface wear. In some areas the wood is weak due to rot and insect damage. There are iron hooks on the back, top and bottom, evidently from a former mount.

This bag has some cotton fiber in it. Reviewed by Winnebago weaver Martha Gradolf, 5/3/05,

First number was X956.2. This feather box is made from one piece of wood. There is a rectangular hole in one end of the box bottom. The opposite end is broken. Inside in pencil there is what appears to be written name F.L...Something. The top has a nine point star engraved on it. It is tied when closed with leather thing tied around it. The bottom has remnants of blue paint which is an Osage practice according to Sean Standing Bear, 10/20/2000.

Possibly not Osage made but Cheyenne or Arapaho woman's small boot moccasins with tall leggings. The use of black beads is more Cheyenne. Nicely done beadwork is on the vamp and partway up the leggings in white, yellow, pink and blue.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Also called a storage bag, tipi bag or possible bag. The beads are sewn with sinew in a 'lazy stitch'. Kroeber called the design a transverse bar or lengthened checker pattern. Bag is beaded on one side with a decoration of crossed and abstracted forms in red, blue, gold and green. The edges are also beaded with metal jingles and orange dyed horsehair decorations. The two-ended pitchfork type design is typically Sioux. It is Central Plains but not Cheyenne or Arapaho. Bead workers would also do this type of beading to show off their expertise so some were also made to be ornamental or given away as gifts.

Seven dice in total: 5 round bone pieces and 2 falcon-shaped bone pieces. They are pictured in "Objects of Myth and Memory." Each die has a component of 11.694.9000.1a-g painted on it, e.g. 11.694.9000.1a.

Dick S. Ramsay Fund