North America | U.S.A.
Tobacco bag
U.S.A.
Cheyenne or neighboring nations
Plains, USA
Late 19th century
Hide, beads, quill, tin cones
Height: 82 cm – 32 ¼ in.
Provenance
Ex collection Michel Zerolo, Paris
Plains tobacco bag 82 cm / Galerie Flak
Price on request
As noted by the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas, "the use of tobacco in rituals was highly developed among Plains Indian peoples. Elaborate bags, often exquisitely detailed works of art, were produced by women to serve as containers for tobacco and, among some tribes, for pipe bowls and stems as well. Together with the pipe, such bags were carried by men on important occasions as an element of formal dress."
Smoking was a means of creating harmony with the spiritual elements, with the smoke symbolizing prayer, a gift or a request for assistance from the Great Spirit.
« Before talking of holy things, we prepare ourselves by offerings. One will fill his pipe and hand it to the other who will light it and offer it to the sky and earth. They will smoke together. Then they will be ready to talk. »
Mato-Kuwapi (Chased by Bears), a Santee-Yanktoni, Sioux warrior.
Smoking was a means of creating harmony with the spiritual elements, with the smoke symbolizing prayer, a gift or a request for assistance from the Great Spirit.
« Before talking of holy things, we prepare ourselves by offerings. One will fill his pipe and hand it to the other who will light it and offer it to the sky and earth. They will smoke together. Then they will be ready to talk. »
Mato-Kuwapi (Chased by Bears), a Santee-Yanktoni, Sioux warrior.
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