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These are Crow or Ute mocassins. Crow and Ute mix floral and geometric beadwork designs.
Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead
This is a long, thin whistle with only one hole in the beak of a bird with metal tacks for eyes. The bird's head is carved at the end and painted blue-green on the outside and red on the inside. The nostril slits are also painted red. The stop is a piece of birch bark held in place with a sinew wrapping. Jarvis (the collector) original inscription reads, "Indian Flute Chippeway."
Probably Apache because of the use of the black beads. Some pieces of cotton thread in the back. Could be a paint bag.
The Jarvis Collection
Many of the articles in this case (and the adjacent clothing case), some of the earliest and finest Eastern Plains pieces in existence, were collected by Dr. Nathan Sturges Jarvis, a military surgeon stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, between 1833 and 1836. Most items were made by the Eastern and Middle Dakota (Sioux) or by the peoples of the Red River region, including the Red River Métis, Anishinabe, Plains Cree, and Salteaux. Some of the objects were purchased by Jarvis, and some may have been given to him in exchange for his medical services.
These works demonstrate indigenous ingenuity in combining trade materials such as cloth, metal, and glass beads with traditional hides, pipestone, and porcupine and bird quills. For comparison, a few examples collected later by Nathan Jarvis, Jr., during his army service in the Western Territories among the Apache and other Plains peoples are also included. These items clearly show the later indigenous preference for multicolored glass trade beads.
Immature golden eagle feather headdress with a beaded headband. Base of feathers wrapped in red felt and made over a felt hat base. Streamers of weasel fur and cloth dangle from headband sides. These types of war bonnets were historically worn for special occasions and may occasionally be worn on the battle field (although men often wore one or two special feathers instead). A man earned the right to make one through his brave deeds. Initially he would be awarded a single feather for each deed; a coup, killing, or horse stealing success. Once he accumulated ten feathers he was generally given permission to obtain the eagle feathers for a full bonnet. Ideally they would have 28 eagle feathers and each may have additional notching to designate an event. The tips of the feathers could be tied with the horsehair if a man had counted many coups. Thus the bonnets became oral histories and each piece signified events in the warrior's life. Feathers were very valuable, i.e., 12 feathers equaled 1 horse. These were worn by warriors, not necessarily "chiefs". Only a few very high ranked warriors would have the bonnets with the long trailers down the back. Today bonnets are still made as recognition for achievements in life, dedication to their community as well as war participation. Golden eagles are a protected bird and Non-natives may not use them, buy them or transport them without special permits.
Brooklyn Museum Collection
After review by several different consultants these mocassins are probably Commanche, although there is a possibility they are Kiowa. Yellow painted mocassins with a beaded arrow design in white, red ,and green on the vamp.
Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead
This is a flat pipe stem of the "trick" type. Geometrically shaped cutouts were made in the center of the stem and the un-initiated had to guess how the smoke traveled through it. Decorated with red and blue-green paint, it shows slash marks made with a hot metal file for added decoration.