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Four Turtles and Two Beavers

Ethnographic Notes

The golden-yellow frame at top may be intended as a nimbus of supernatural power, uniting this assemblage of underwater creatures. It is tempting to see it as a cross-section of a beaver lodge, but in that event one would expect it to be rounded, rather than angular. In Lakota, the two beaver are called capa (Buechel, 1970: 127). The two, medium-sized turtles are probably intended as painted turtles, “red on both sides of the head,” patkasa; the large one at center with extended neck, and the one at upper left with the medial ridge on its shell are both snapping turtles, keya; the small one is called keh'anla (Buechel, 1870: 436; 297-98). It is possible that the entire composition might represent one of the square, painted buffalo robes worn by officers of the Sacred Bow Society. Although there is no specific reference to this combination of figures, compare with Plate 83, which features turtles and water snakes.


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Provenance

Private owner. Provenance provided by 3rd generation descendants of Charles A. Wilkins on a typed note taped ...

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Document Info
Plate No: 3
Page No: --
Media: pencil and colored pencil
Dimensions: 6.5 x 7.25 inches
Custodian
Personal Collection
Artist
Black Road
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