Cradleboard: wood; pigment; vegetable fibre cord; hand forged nails; commercial screws. Doll: cloth; wool(?); glass beads

Cradleboard: The base of the cradleboard is a single rectangular piece of carved wood; The upright curved bow is a separate piece of wood; both ends of the bow coincide with two rectangular carved slits near the top edge of the base; the ends of the bow are secured to the base with vegetable fibre cord that is twisted and threaded through the single holes on either end of the bow and tied knotted at holes in the base and curved support. The support of the cradleboard is created using a seperate piece of wood that has been curved on the sides and foot, and is secured to the base with fibres threaded through holes near the bow; vegetable fibres are laced through a series of holes in the curved support that hold the doll to the board. Two carved pieces of wood have been secured to the top and bottom of the back of the cradleboard base with hand forged nails and commercial screws. The wood has been ornamented with engravings, chip carving and pigment.
Doll: Made with cloth that has been sewn together and stuffed with possibly wool(?). Hair is sewn and made with possibly wool(?); hair ornament made of red cloth and glass beads. Eyes are made with glass beads, red pigment for mouth.

Inscription engraved on top front of cradleboard says "1869 / MAHNE / July 23" with flowers in vase motif, blue-black pigment added. Horizontal line ending in double curves at top. Back has complex design of floral, leaf, bird, quartered circle/sun, equal-armed cross or four-lobed figures, flowers in vase, and unidentified motifs engraved; hoop has leaf shaped motifs

Date indicated on object

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