Artist once known
Knife Scabbard, c. 1890
Beading on leather
Gift from Barbara Ince Vogel, in memory of Philip B. Vogel
The beauty of this knife scabbard is the first thing you see. Not the violence. Not the violation of land rights. Not the countless deaths of native people. Not the pain that the person who made this scabbard must have been through. I should be able to know who poured all of their love and time into this scabbard, yet the label reads artists once known.
In 1890, the year this scabbard was made, the United States government was continuing exploitative and racist treatment towards Native Americans. The number of boarding schools were increasing, where cultural practices were stripped from the native people forced to attend. There were also continuing violations of land treaties, resulting in shrinking reservation sizes and food supply, leading to poverty. During the Wounded Knee Massacre many Lakota people were slaughtered as they sought shelter. I wish I could say this was an isolated event. But it’s not. It is a constant ongoing war, and 1890 was only a small slice.
Yet throughout it, this sheath has remained a sign of beauty and culture. It was made through hours of delicate beadwork, and great care. The flowers paint a picture of serenity and love. The pastel pink and green matched nicely with the deeply saturated red and stark white plane. This scabbard fills me with love and with regret and with deep sadness. But mostly it fills me with calm knowing that this artwork exists, and that I am here to say I’ve seen you, your work mattered to me. It’s beautiful.