Artifacts - Cultural World
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Plains-style
Beaded Bag
The beaded design on this special bag is unusual and hints at the bag's use; do you see a pipe with a red pipe bowl? This Native American leather bag was made to carry tobacco and a pipe for use at ceremonies and meetings. The very small glass beads are some of the clues that help us determine its age. Experts think it may have been made around 1830 by a person from the Southern Cheyenne culture. (63.2/19) |
Wire Jumbo Jet
What can you make out of wire? This jet was made by a teenage boy, named Lemere Alemi, who lived in Kinshasa, Zaire. He and other boys make wire toys like this one of all shapes and sizes, including bulldozers, yachts, cars, helicopters, motorcycles, tanks and anything else that sparks their imagination! Making them requires a lot of practice and skill. Oncecomplete, the wire creations are sold in local marketplaces to be taken home as playthings or to be admired as unique artforms. (85.1.300) |
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Speedy Skeletons
Zip! Zip! Here they come - two young skeletons on their way to the Dia de los Muertos celebrations! In parts of Mexico and the United States people celebrate the annual homecoming of the spirits. Skeletons can be seen everywhere from October 31st to November 2nd during the festivities. Some skeletons are made by internationally-known artists, while others, like these two, are made by unknown artisans. The celebration recognizes the cycle of life and is a time to recall happy times, favorite foods and the activities of the beloved spirits. To see more items used in Day of the Dead festivities, visit the Passport to the World Gallery at The Children's Museum. (96.76.1; 96.76.2) |
Miss Shimane
Miss Shimane may look six years old, but in 1997 she will have her 70th birthday! She and her 57 sisters were sent as friendship ambassadors to the United States in 1927. The friendship doll exchange began in 1926, when American school children sent a similar group of dolls to Japanese schools. Her steamer ticket, passport and accessories are still part of the museum's collections. Over time, friendship dolls in both countries were hidden, lost and destroyed. Recently, museums have shared their dolls so that once again the goodwill ambassadors can spread the message of friendship to both countries. (92.18.1-.27) |
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Chinese Lion Mask
The Chinese lion dances during times of joy and to ensure good luck. The lion performs at New Year's celebrations and at the openings of new businesses and buildings. The dancers are often teenagers who have learned the traditional choreography and have great enthusiasm and endurance. Two people dance together to portray the lion. While dancing, they pull on hidden wires, opening and shutting the eyes and wriggling the ears. (95.39.1) |
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