1913.87.87

Collection type

Object

Description

Piece of wood carved in zigzag shape to resemble lightening bolt. The wood is painted pink in the middle and both ends painted green. [FB 24/03/2014]

Long description

Piece of wood carved in zigzag shape to resemble lightening bolt. The wood is painted pink in the middle and both ends painted green. Plaited wool has been tied and secured with a knot at either end, one has a white feather secured to it. FB 24/03/2014]

Geographical reference

United States of America

Northern America > North America > United States of America

Arizona Tewa Village (Hano)

Cultural groups

Hopi-Tewa

Person

Field collector Barbara Whitchurch Freire-Marreco

PRM source Barbara Whitchurch Freire-Marreco

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1913

Date collected

1913

Acquisition information

Donated: 1913

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Bird Feather, Material Pigment, Material Wool Yarn Animal, Process Painted, Process Carved, Process Knotted, Process Plaited

Dimensions

Length: max 265 mm, Width: max 73 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1913.87.87 Other numbers: Catalogue number 87

Associated publications

Illustrated in colour on page 200 of Lightning, by Derek M. Elsom (London: Reaktion Books, 2015). Caption (same page): 'Wooden lightning staff (1913) in the shape of a snake carried by male Pueblo Indian dancers during rainmaking ceremonies in Arizona. The snake in a zigzag shape is believed to magically linked to lightning.' See also the general account on pages 198-200. [JC 5 5 2017]

Search terms: Religion, Dance, Religious Object, Dance Accessory