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D-liz
08-19-2004, 07:57 AM
Well I thought it looked an interesting exhibition 'A warrior am I' so along I went to Birmingham Museum. The tipi, stuffed Buffalo, (my they are big ffffff...fella's arn't they!) and everthing else was very informative but the thing/s that just totally knocked me out was the exquisite beadwork on the clothes etc, it was phenominal! All the intricate working on the saddle pads/blankets and particularly the waistcoats is just so beautifully worked it must have taken weeks to complete. What also struck me was the fact that although some of the designs/patterns were from something like 1880 they could span across the decades and still look fresh and 'modern' now. The exhibition was done in conjunction with somebody called Richard Green I don't know anything about him, does anyone here? All the ceremonial items pipes, drums eagle wings etc had sweetgrass and sage with them I presume it must be used as part of the ceremonies and put in the cases in respect of that. Anyone that does beadwork I think would have found this interesting.


liz

Blackbear
08-19-2004, 09:12 PM
Just a guess but probably put there with them there as display .. or possibly they put them there to help keep them purified while being on display, but I'd go with the being on display as being more likely.

Yeah the beadwork is totally impressive, of course I'm partial to iroquois beadwork but ya know.. LOL!

Even more impressive is how beadwork in native america has evolved. Take a look at this link and see some of the modern beadwork from the largest powwow in America!
http://www.gatheringofnations.com/photos/powwow01/