VERY RARE 19th C. PLAIN\'S INDIAN SUN DANCE CEREMONIAL STICK n/ WAR CLUB
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VERY RARE 19th C. PLAIN\'S INDIAN SUN DANCE CEREMONIAL STICK n/ WAR CLUB :
$2999.00
This sale is for a Profoundly Rare and Absolutely MUSEUM Grade ca. 1880 Plain\'s Indian SUN DANCE Ritual / Ceremonial Artifact Dance Stick in Excellent Original condition. It was Carved from a Dense Midwestern Hardwood and measures 20.5\" long. It contains an Elliptical cut-out and a The Christian Symbol of the Cross as well for SPIRITUAL Purposes. It contains # 52 Old Brass Tacks of 2 sizes and contains a Glass Insert so the Person holding the Stick could see the Sun Spirits Reflection and other Spiritual Visions (Old crack in mirror is Stable as Old Horse Gut / Hooves Adhesive (Horse Glue) attaches it to the Wooden Dance Stick - Horse Gut / Hooves Residue that seeped out and that has long since Hardened can be seen around Brass Tacks at base of the mirror). There are also 2 Dark Patches where the Artifact had been Stained - see photos. Has surface scratches / cracks from Age wear and dings as expected. In Solid Original Condition. There is also a Suspension Hole at Base where animal Hide would have once been attached to wrap around the Warrior\'s Hand.
The Sun Dance was performed by virtually all Plain\'s Tribes Peoples and involved Initial Prayers and then 3 or 4 days of much Dance and Self Mutilation including hanging suspended by Hide or Rope attached using large Pins that Pierced the Warriors\' Flesh. Mostly Young Warriors performed these acts and between much Dance, Chanting, Lack of Sleep and Self-Mutilation would work themselves into a Spiritual Frenzy even Hallucinating from Fatigue often claiming they saw the Sun Spirit - the Spirit of Life on Earth and other Visions. I took photos both with and without the Camera\'s Flash.
This Artifact is all the Rarer given this dance Frightened and Offended the Settlers of the Region who found it Gruesome and the actions of Godless Heathens. In an effort to reign in this \'Savage\' behavior the U.S. Government outlawed the Sun Dance Ceremony around 1890 or so but this Artifact survived the Gov\'t Ban. However due to sometimes Lax U.S. Gov\'t Reservation Agents who either weren\'t around or looked the other way when the Ceremony was performed, the Dance continued on secretly in some tribes very Infrequently for a few more years but it was completely abandoned by 1900. In the 1930\'s and 1940\'s the U.S. Gov\'t once again allowed the ceremony to be performed minus the Frenzied Aspects and Self-Mutilation.
The last time I saw one for sale was about 10 years ago and it sold for Thousands of Dollars $ as most of these are in Museums or Private Collections
I am offering this Profoundly Rare Museum Grade Sun Dance Stick with a Low \"But it Now\" price or Make an Offer
* I prefer Paypal and ship promptly and securely by U.S. Priority mail with Full insurance inside the Lower 48 States and to Canada by U.S. 1st Class International Air Mail (insurance generally Not available to Canada)
* All Sales Final -- Refunds ONLY if Item(s) is significantly Misidentified. Guaranteed Authentic.
* Buyer / buyer\'s Identities are kept Anonymous to other members.
VERY RARE 19th C. PLAIN\'S INDIAN SUN DANCE CEREMONIAL STICK n/ WAR CLUB :
$2999.00