“Whimsies” are small beaded items that were created by Native American artisans to sell to tourists. At the turn of the 20th century, the Niagara Falls region experienced a great boom in tourism, and visitors proved eager to buy handmade goods as souvenirs. Native cultures of this region were well-known for making skilled floral beadwork that appealed greatly to the aesthetics … [Read more...] about Beaded Bags: Researched and Conserved by Cassidy Hale
These colorful earrings are made with light green, dark green, blue, and red seed beads. The almond shape of the transparent green beaded loops suggests that they may represent leaves, or more likely, feathers that are tied along a string. Feathers were commonly worn as status symbols among Great Plains cultures, as they were presented as symbols of recognition for different … [Read more...] about Native North American Beadwork by Alexa Langelier
Among the indigenous artists of the Americas, ceramists have developed signature pottery forms that are based on traditional cooking and storage vessels. These artists often also developed elaborate, decorative forms of pottery to serve for important civic or ritual occasions, as well as to cater to and satisfy high-status patrons. Some forms, motifs, and designs on these … [Read more...] about Native Ceramic Vessels from Around the Americas: Researched by Whitney Mosley and Sarah Teel
The Native peoples of the Great Plains consist of a variety of cultures who adopted a similar lifestyle that enabled them to survive in this relatively harsh region. These peoples based their subsistence upon the great bison herds, depending on them for food, clothing, and shelter; following these herds required the Great Plains peoples to adopt a nomadic existence with few … [Read more...] about Regalia of the Great Plains Nations: Researched by Macaylah Gant Hodge
Native American beadwork varies greatly among different cultures, with individual nations often adopting specific designs, color schemes, beading techniques, and added elements. The Bone Bead Key Ring in this display, for example, is composed of glass seed beads, aluminum tinklers, short cylindrical plastic beads, and long bone beads, all strung on hemp cord; this particular … [Read more...] about Native American Beadwork: Researched by Jasmine Currey