Cradle Hood

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-baby carriers

Culture Lakota

Datec. 1890

Made AtUnited States, North America

MediumTanned deerskin leather and glass beads

Dimensions22 7/8 × 29 1/2 in. (58.1 × 74.9 cm)

Credit LineGift of Junius & Angeline Holte

Object number86.30.2

DescriptionCradle Hood, fully beaded on leather, 29-1/2"L x 22-7/8"W. Arrowfeather design in green and blue with vertical red stripe against white background, straight stitched with seed beads in short row style. Attached to hood are loomed tassels in geometric style beadwork with attached bells. Separate ligament ties. Attached tag reads, "Sioux/ Baby/ Carrier." Lakota (Sioux). Object collected by Henrietta Lunde Holte, mother of donor. Generally good condition, except for soil in white beadwork and following losses: in white background, some tassels on hood. Exhibited: "Red Cloud Agency Benefit" - Irvine Hilton, Irvine, CA; 6/19-6/21/87 (co-sponsored by Ultrasystems & Bowers Museum).
Label Copy, "This hood would have been used to cover a wicker baby carrier. The top rear has bells attached to amuse the baby and express the happiness of the parents. The hood is leather and is fully beaded with glass trade beads." (P. Apodaca, 6/87).
Identified by AJL & PA.
"California Legacies" label copy:
BABY CRADLE HOOD
Lakota Culture. North American Plains.
c. 1895. Glass Beads, Leather, Eagle Feathers.

Soft cradles such as this were popular among the Lakota. Although they were often attached to a wooden frame, this was not always the case as without the frame it was easy to hold the infant on one's lap and to carry it in one's arm. As with this example, they were usually fully beaded and often adorned with small bells to amuse the young child.
-Bill Mercer 2012

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