flute, courting

flute, courting

flute, courting

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Introduction

A wooden courting flute with one finger hole. The bottom opening is carved in the shape of a bird with its head painted red. Collected by G.C. Beltrami in Wisconsin in 1823. Vigorelli, the Beltrami Collection catalogue's author, describes it as a Santee Sioux courting flute.

Nation of Maker: Sioux
Nation of Origin

The author of the Beltrami catalogue, Vigorelli, states that "Sante Sioux" is this item's the nation of origin.

Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Based on museum documentation.

Materials

wood, ash (?); sinew; brass tacks; dye, red

Techniques or Format

Carved from wood and painted. Brass tacks have been used decoratively, as the eyes of the being carved at the bottom opening of the flute. The bottom opening is carved in the shape of an animal, possibly a bird, with brass or metal tacks used to represent its eyes.

Motifs and Patterns

An animal, possibly a bird.

Original and Subsequent Uses

Vigorelli in the Beltrami s Collection Catalogue wrote:"Il suono prodotto da questo zufolo ricorda il canto d''amore del cervo maschio (wapiti) di cui gli indiani apprezzavano la dolcezza e la forza in amore: per questo lo strumento e'' conosciuto come "zufolo del cervo" ed al suo suono era attribuito potere d''amore." (p. 33)

Dimensions: 100 × 0 × 0 cm
Condition: good
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: grasac_1516
Collection at Current Location: Collezione Beltrami
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1850s
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: The Civic Library of Bergamo
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1823
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected by G.C. Beltrami from Wisconsin in 1823. Beltrami's collection catalogue states that around 1856, Beltrami's nephew donated several objects to the Civic Library of Bergamo, which were later transferred to the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali.

Exhibition History

The Beltrami Collection was exhibited in Florence in 1929 during the "Prima Esposizione Nazionale di Storia delle Scienze" (First National Exposition of History of Sciences"). In 1973, during a celebration of the Beltrami exhibit, Glauco Luchetti donated three objects from his own collection, which were located in Beltrami's last house in Filottrano, to the "Museo Civico E. Caffi". In 1987 the collection was used in the exhibit entitled "Missisippi 1823. Oggetti indiani raccolti da G. Costantino Beltrami" in the Galleria Lorenzelli in Bergamo.

Publication History

Beltrami s catalogue. Vigorelli, Gli Oggetti indiani raccolti da G.Costantino Beltrami (p.33).

Sources to Learn More

Leonardo Vigorelli, Gli Oggetti indiani raccolti da G.Costantino Beltrami, Civico Museo E. Caffi, Bergamo, 1987

GKS Reference Number: 26900
Record Creation Context

This record was created by Emanuela Rossi after a trip, funded by GRASAC, to the Museo Civico E. Caffi in Bergamo, Italy in October 2008.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Emanuela Rossi

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

Source of Information about Places

In the Beltrami Collection Catalogue, the author, Leonardo Vigorelli, defines "Upper Mississippi" as the Cultural Area of Origin. He defines "Northern Plains" as the Geographic Area.