Native American bison horn club

colin henshaw · 20th March 2016, 05:03 PM

After a little more search on the internet, I found a couple of similar examples. The first image is from the American Museum of Natural History collection, described as "Ghost Dance Club, Ceremonial". Acquisition 1910.

Seemingly, one of the aims of the Ghost Dance movement, as well as the removal of European colonists, was the return of the vast herds of buffalo that previously existed. Perhaps this is the reason for the attachment of the two horns ? The regalia of participants also incorporated magical "Ghost Shirts" which were meant to repel bullets.

I suppose another possibility to be considered, is that the piece is a remnant from one of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Shows, which also toured Britain in around the period in question...

20th March 2016, 05:03 PM	#5
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	After a little more search on the internet, I found a couple of similar examples. The first image is from the American Museum of Natural History collection, described as "Ghost Dance Club, Ceremonial". Acquisition 1910. Seemingly, one of the aims of the Ghost Dance movement, as well as the removal of European colonists, was the return of the vast herds of buffalo that previously existed. Perhaps this is the reason for the attachment of the two horns ? The regalia of participants also incorporated magical "Ghost Shirts" which were meant to repel bullets. I suppose another possibility to be considered, is that the piece is a remnant from one of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Shows, which also toured Britain in around the period in question... Attached Images