Bidspirit auction | Antique American Indian Wooden and

Antique American Indian Wooden and Leather Medicinal Drum. personal sacred object used for healing, prayer, or specific ceremonies. - Antique American Indian wooden and leather Medicinal Drum, personal sacred object used for healing, prayer, or specific ceremonies. The Wooden ”Bowl” Construction. The fact that this is a true wooden bowl—rather than a thin, steam-bent hoop—is significant. Northern Plains/Plateau Style: Many drums from the inland Northwest and Northern Plains utilize deep, hand-carved or turned wooden bowls. Iconography and Symbolic Meaning. The underside is a map of a personal or tribal spiritual landscape:The Central Circle: The red-outlined circle in the middle often represents the ”Center of the World” or the individual's place within the universe. The Four Directions: The four distinct shapes within that center circle (triangular/U-shapes) likely represent the Four Winds or the Four Directions, which are foundational to Plains spirituality. Animal Tracks: You can see horseshoe or ”U” shapes and elongated ”track” marks These often symbolize a successful hunt, a specific horse raid, or the spirit of the animal that gives the drum its ”voice”. Blue and Yellow Pigments: The light blue/turquoise and ochre-yellow paints are classic colors in Indigenous American art, representing the sky/water and the sun/earth. The use of square-cut or heavy iron tacks holding the red cloth was common in the late 19th through the mid-20th century. The Fabric: The red and tan cloth fringe shows ”shattering”—a specific type of fraying common in older cotton/synthetic blends from this era. The Patina: The ”grime” and oil absorption on the drum head (the top) indicate it was actually used and handled over decades. The head isn't just stained; it has the ”skin oils” of many years of use. Cultural Origin RecapThis is a Medicine Drum. Unlike ”Social” or ”Powwow” drums which are meant for everyone to see, a Medicine Drum often has the important art on the inside or the underside, visible primarily to the player. It is a personal sacred object used for healing, prayer, or specific ceremonies. Collector's Note: Because this appears to be a genuine ceremonial object with significant age, it should be handled with care. The rawhide is under tension and the wood is already cracking; keeping it in a stable environment with moderate humidity is key to preventing that crack from splitting the bowl entirely. Diameter: 18”. For additional images please visit sofedesignauctions.com Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at info@sofedesignauctions.com ***All lots are sold as-is and where is. No statement regarding age, condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalog or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. All sales are final, and SOFE AUCTIONS do not give refunds. SOFE AUCTIONS ARE PLEASED TO OFFER IN-HOUSE PACKAGING AND SHIPPING SERVICES. PACKAGING SERVICE ONLY: start at $25 and up depending on your item/s. Available IN-HOUSE shipping is within the USA of small, medium, semi-large, NON-FRAGILE items. PLEASE SELECT IN-HOUSE SHIPPING FOR FAST, PROFESSIONAL PACKING AND SHIPPING.SOFE WON'T ship items in glass frames, large fragile items or large sculptures. After paying for your item/s please call SOFE at 469-268-1177, or email us at info@sofedesignauctions.com to request a shipping quote. All item/s will be shipped via UPS or FedEx, FULLY insured, unless insurance declined in writing by the buyer. SOFE AUCTIONS do not use USPS. We do have a list of suggested third-party shippers. Please visit our webpage for a list of recommended shippers.