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Sioux Baby Carrier

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Sioux Baby Carrier
<B>Sioux Baby Carrier</B></I><BR>Circa 1890<BR>Length 28 in. as mounted<BR><BR>The native tanned hide cradle is fully beaded in lazy stitch with a variety of geometric designs including stepped triangles, stepped diamonds, small squares and crosses, done in green, blue, navy blue, red, and metallic beads against a white background, sinew sewn. Brass hawk bells decorate the rawhide flap and the edges of the opening. A section of wool blanket cloth has been sewn to the base.<BR>Cradles served a variety of roles within Sioux culture. "1-Cradles functioned as child care tools, to keep babies warm, safe, restricted in their movements and easy to carry about. 2-Cradles functioned as art objects. 3-Cradles were cultural products, artifacts of Lakota material culture, identifying the maker and the user as Lakota. 4-Cradles strengthened relationships as gifts made by one woman to give to another to whom she was related by blood or by marriage. 5-Cradles advertised craftswomen's expertise. 6-Cradles were status symbols, designators of rank, indicators of status, re-enforcers or enhancers of status and reflections of a family's prestige."<BR><BR>Reference<BR>Lessard, Rosemary, "Lakota Cradles" in <I>American Indian Art Magazine,</B></I> Volume 16, Number 1, Winter 1990, pp. 44-53.<BR><BR> <BR><BR><B>Importa