Wrist Guard
Arts of the Americas
These Native American objects represent just a few of the items made in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century, primarily for sale to dealers and collectors to satisfy the growing market for indigenous products. Finely coiled baskets like the example by the Maidu weaver Mary Kea’a’ala Azbill were in great demand, as were Zuni Kachina dolls. The desire for Eskimo objects such as the ivory pipe engraved with a whale-hunting scene was accelerated by the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. To appeal to non-Native patrons, Native artists invented new designs using trade materials such as the glass beads forming the embroidered floral arrangement on the northeastern puzzle bag (so named for the way its pieces fold together to keep it closed). Other artists used traditional materials but tailored designs to non-Native aesthetics, as seen in the porcupine-quill box. The Navajo quickly adapted to the Spanish introduction of silver coins and silver mining in the seventeenth century, embellishing their traditional wrist guards with hammered silver. Some artists retained both traditional materials and designs but produced greater quantities of popular items such as the Plains owl pipe bowl made from Catlinite (red pipestone).
MEDIUM
Silver, leather
DATES
early 20th century
DIMENSIONS
3 3/8 x 13/16 x 3 5/8 in. (8.5 x 2 x 9.2 cm)
ACCESSION NUMBER
08.491.8933
CREDIT LINE
Museum Expedition 1908, Museum Collection Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Wristlets, or ketohs, were originally worn on a man's left arm as a guard against the snap of a bowstring. By the turn of the century, however, they were generally worn for purely decorative purposes. Ornamented by silver plate, they are backed with a leather band that laces closed.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
RECORD COMPLETENESS
Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and
we welcome any additional information you might have.
![Kachina Doll (Pakwen [Clown])](https://d1lfxha3ugu3d4.cloudfront.net/images/opencollection/objects/size2_sq/CUR.03.325.4606_front.jpg)
