Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: IndianGuy on May 30, 2011, 06:30:30 pm

Title: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: IndianGuy on May 30, 2011, 06:30:30 pm
I have been busy making a few bowcases and quiver sets. Here is one I completed recently.
I have always wanted to make a quiver set from a long horn cow hide. Plains tribes found these animals very useful when the buffalo started to dissappear and made use of their meat and hides.
This bowcase shows much symbolism in the beaded designs . The design on the quivers drop that looks like a "Q" were the symbols used for the whirlwind or tornado and the symbol that looks like a cross is the symbol used for the morning star.
The little bag attached between the strap would be used to carry glue, extra arrowheads and a flint and steel.

The beadwork is done is czech 11/0 glass seed beads and the red cloth is trade wool.

Enjoy the pics.

Eric
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: El Destructo on May 30, 2011, 06:43:39 pm
Sweet work...I have always wanted to try on myself...but have never found the time to start on one...too much other stuff going on...and A.D.H.D plays hell on your concentration...especially with bead work.... ;D
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: ErictheViking on May 30, 2011, 06:48:09 pm
very nice craftminship, especially the beadwork.
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: blackhawk on May 30, 2011, 06:49:41 pm
As always beautiful work Eric. I love your stuff. Thanks for sharing and showing. Is that a finished "eka-who" inside it.
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: IndianGuy on May 30, 2011, 06:54:15 pm
As always beautiful work Eric. I love your stuff. Thanks for sharing and showing. Is that a finished "eka-who" inside it.

No black hawk the "Eka-who" - red wood or "ette"- bow as it would be called is still in the works, its a gull wing shaped. the thukas in the quiver are over 100 years old!  8)
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: donnieonetrack on May 30, 2011, 07:40:39 pm
Eric, Awesome and beautiful quiver.

Donnie
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: wildkatt on May 31, 2011, 11:46:38 am
 ;D Very nice Bro love it,  >:D For me LOL definitely top notch. ;D ;D ;D



Katt
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: JackCrafty on May 31, 2011, 12:57:45 pm
Wow!  Very nice!
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: blackhawk on May 31, 2011, 01:01:39 pm
Awesome....thanks. that's what I thought. It looked kinda thick yet. And I can only imagine the stories those thukas could tell.  :) have you heard them?
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: dragonman on May 31, 2011, 04:13:34 pm
nice work, that bead work looks like it takes a lot of patience?, what kind of beads are they ? and where would they have got them originaly? also what is that symbol ? if you dont mind all the questions!!!
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: fusizoli on May 31, 2011, 05:12:41 pm
Work of art!

Where schould I read from Indian symbolism?
I ve found your homepage ;) More pics would be nice.
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: IndianGuy on May 31, 2011, 06:10:50 pm
Dragonman...most of your questions were answered in my first post. As to where did they get beads. Beads were trade items brought in by the French and English traders.
Thread was not introduced until the 1860's so most beadwork before then was sinew sewn. Even after thread was introduced sinew was the main sewing material for the Plains tribes even into the early 1900's.

Fusizoli...Indian symbolism is hard to learn about because many of the symbols were only known to the owner of the symbol. The few symbols that are know can be found in various books. Here are some known  symbols...tornado/ whirlwind, morning star, dragonfly, horse track, buffalo and bear track and the four winds. Each symbol could have various meaning to the owners. For example four horse hoof tracks could mean four stolen ponies, a bear track could mean bear killed or the owner had bear medicine...etc...etc. I would need a book to discuss all the Indian Symbolism possibalities.


Eric

Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: dragonman on May 31, 2011, 07:18:18 pm
you'r right Indianguy... that 'll teach me to read things and not just look at the pictures!!!!! ::)
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: fusizoli on May 31, 2011, 08:10:02 pm
Thats why I ask :)

I haven't got the "big " books from Indians but read some in my life. Now makeing bows and other things and like to know what I do.
Mean like to know the main symbols whan decorating a bow or a quiver. Now I'm going after my feelings and after amnh.org

So if U will write a book or have any information from a book like this, please send me a PM please. :)
Title: Re: Plains Indian beaded Bow cases and quivers. (pics)
Post by: fusizoli on May 31, 2011, 08:42:09 pm
Lucky find  ;D  Looking fore some more inspiration and find this under a bow pic.

http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/204/1/A007a01.pdf

Not too much but more than nothing.