Thursday, November 22, 2012

Little Parfleche

Sinew sewn little parfleche I made 20 years ago.

Stone Knives

Here I have 2 stone knives that my father found years ago. He also beaded the pieces also. This is where my roots begin with the my reproductions.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Buffalo Priming Horns

Here are 2 horns I completed, one I rubbed with red ochre and the other with cadmium blue oil paint. After looking at a George Catlin book studying the colors, blue paint was hard to obtain on the western plains. I know also that during the fur trade era oil paints were sold at a few trading posts. This is my reason for the blue paint.

Indian Head Knife

This I made using recycled materials like a chokecherry branch and an old metal barrel hoop for a blade. Other recycled materials are brass wire and old tin for cones. Brass tacks for eyes and some green earth paint add to the piece.



Carved Stone Ball

This piece a made after seeing an original years ago. My ole friend Don Hacket used to arrowhead hunt back in the day. He found a ball carved out of black steatite (soapstone). I made one to the detail as the original that's in my collection now. I carved this out of scrap talc stone I found here local. Next I then painted a bright green and red for the dots.

Finger Trophys

Well here is a flashback photo, I have seen pictures in books of Plains Indian collected finger necklaces. I made many attempts to replicate these little things. This is my first real batch that I made. Imagine that it was belief that if you removed your enemy's finger in the next world he wouldn't be able to use it.

Grave Marker

I am always looking and researching for items that are odd but with a historical significance. This marker is in a museum in SD and it struck me. So this museum claims these markers were used around the Black Hills region and Custer Battle Field. Anyways I had to make one ! Needless to say it was hair raising to event to take a picture. I found some thick sage overgrowth in the desert and snapped this picture. I believe that a historical society had these made in the 1890's..

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Battle Trophy

I have always wanted to find a piece like this laying out on the ground here in Wyoming. Needless to say that will never happen.. Try to imagine on horseback trying to bring a Bison down with your bow.. You have made the bow and straighten out a wild rose stem for an arrow. The trade point sharpened razor sharp to penetrate the thick hide of a bison. What happens if you miss your mark ?? Well the great bison carries all your hard work away as a "Battle Trophy".

Bison Rawhide Cutouts

I had cut these out a year ago, struggling to accurately paint them the whole time. Giving in I finally pulled them out and painted a simple design. Braintan leather lace and a few beads...