wood; unsmoked hide thongs (look newer than the board); paint/pigment; screws

The backboard base of the cradle is a single rectangular piece of carved wood that has been painted on the front and back and elaborately carved and engraved at the top. The support of the cradleboard is created using a seperate piece of painted wood that has been curved at the foot, and is secured to the backboard with hide thongs threaded through holes near the upright bow. The upright bow is a separate piece of painted wood bent with a concave curve in the front. Both ends of the bow have rectangular carved slits; the bow is secured to the backboard with hide thongs that are twisted and threaded through the single holes at either end of the bow and holes in the backboard. On the back of the backboard, a carved and painted piece of wood with notched ends has been secured horizontally with screws near the top; the notched ends fit securely inside the two rectangular slits of the upright bow.

Heart, floral, crescent shapes, possibly four-petaled flower

Beaded cradleboard wrapper added later - see DAM 1953.177 a, b.

Visit to Denver Art Museum of Alex Nahwegahbow and Ruth Phillips, assisted by Eric Berkemeyer and Kristin Strid on 22 Jan 2014.