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Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
ProvenanceGeorge Terasaki, New York City; Sotheby's New York City, 1990, lot 219; Gary Spratt, Rutherford, California; Morning Star Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BibliographySotheby's. September 25, 1990, Sale #6061, lot 219.
Vincent, Gilbert T. Masterpieces of American Indian Art. New York: Harry Abrams, 1995, p.33.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.106.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions, 1999, p. 48, fig. 34.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 115.
Culture
Dakota (Santee Sioux)
Ball-headed Club
Date1815 ca.
MediumWood
DimensionsOverall: 20 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (52.1 × 8.9 × 8.9 cm)
Object numberT0054
Credit LineGift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThis finely carved ball-headed club was a traditional weapon used in hand-to-hand combat. Warriors sometimes incorporated images of guardian spirits on their clubs to evoke spiritual power and success in warfare. On this club, the highly abstracted effigy represents the dragon-like ruler of the Underworld. The shallow scallops under the ball may reference the waves that the Underwater Oanther makes with his tail when he lashes it around in the water.Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
ProvenanceGeorge Terasaki, New York City; Sotheby's New York City, 1990, lot 219; Gary Spratt, Rutherford, California; Morning Star Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BibliographySotheby's. September 25, 1990, Sale #6061, lot 219.
Vincent, Gilbert T. Masterpieces of American Indian Art. New York: Harry Abrams, 1995, p.33.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.106.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions, 1999, p. 48, fig. 34.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 115.
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