Exhibition Highlights
Acoma Pueblo, Wedding Vase, late 1800s, early 1900s.
Although sold as a souvenir, this vessel is in the form of a wedding vase. The shape itself reflects marriage, the spouts representing the bride and groom, and the round handle showing their unity. The bride drinks first, followed by the groom. Then the couple lifts the vessel together and drinks simultaneously. The zigzagging patterns on this piece are associated with clouds and rain.
LM |
Tlingit, Alaska, Kicksetti Totem, early 20th century.
Although this totem pole was made for tourists, its imagery derives from the Kicksetti pole in Wrangell, Alaska that displays the stories associated with the Kicksetti people. The pole is topped with a face representing the mountain on the Stikine River, where the family’s legends had taken place. Next is a frog that represents the mother’s family. Below the frog is the Creator, the old Raven. The final figure is the Kilisnoo beaver, emblem of the father’s family.
CL |
Diné (Navajo), Yeibichai Dancers Rug, 1930s.
This rug depicts the ceremony of the Yeis. The Yeis ceremonies were performed to either attract good energies or exorcise bad energies. The dance was directed by the Medicine Man and included around fourteen other dancers. There was the leader Yeibichai (Talking God), six male dancers, six female dancers and the Water Sprinkler (God of Precipitated Water). Each Yeibichai rug is unique. Usually male dancers are depicted with round heads while female dancers are shown with square heads.
AB |
Ancestral Puebloan, Four Corners Region, Pitcher, c. 750-1000 CE; Ancestral Puebloan, Mesa Verde, Mug, c. 1200-1300 CE; Ancestral Puebloan, Chaco Canyon, Pitcher, c. 900-1100 CE.
These pitchers and mug demonstrate technological change. Pitchers are a form commonly associated with Chaco Canyon, whereas mugs were developed a few centuries later in Mesa Verde. Both would have been used as serving vessels. Whether for ceremonial or every-day purposes is unclear. Mugs were most often comparable in size to modern coffee mugs, but this example is much smaller. This small scale may suggest that this vessel would have served a slightly different purpose than the larger mugs.
CB, CP |
Ute, Colorado or Utah, Cradle Board, late 1800s, early 1900s.
A cradleboard would be used to hold a baby from birth until about one year of age. Cradle boards would be carried by the mother, either on her back or in her arms, and could be propped up against a vertical support. Decorated with beadwork and other ornaments, the cradleboard exemplifies the importance of children and families to the Ute people. This example’s yellow color indicates that it was made for a girl. A practical and meaningful device, Cradleboards are still used today.
CA |
Severino Martinez & Arley Woodty
Copyright 2020 Rachel A. Zimmerman
