Bundle of 20 Visiting Sticks

Artist:Osage

Medium: Wood, pigment, hide, membrane

Geograhical Locations:

• Osage Village, Oklahoma, United States

Dates:late 19th–early 20th century

Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (24.1 x 3.8 cm)

Collections:

• Arts of the Americas

Exhibitions:

• Objects of Myth and Memory

Accession Number: 11.694.8994

Catalogue Description:
These messenger sticks are wood sticks tied with hide and a piece of membrane [possibly snake skin]. See also 11.694.9025 for visiting tobacco. Such sticks were sent by a messenger when a traveler was within a day's journey of his destination. His hosts were expected to give a small token in return.

Brooklyn Museum