Asset number
1613675786
Description
Bow, constructed from a curved length of bone (bison rib?; elk antler?). The outside of the bow is criss-crossed with engraved lines to hold the sinew backing, covered in a thick red paint. The bow has several different bindings: at the belly is a length of skin thong , possibly covering a wrapping of sinew, intended as a grip; half way along both arms are bindings of red, blue and white porcupine plaited quillwork, over a light skin binding, possibly from an internal organ or bird; at the tips are additional sinew bindings, one still covered in a lighter skin. The nocks have light 'Z' twist bindings of cord, now rather loose. The string is of thick 'S' twist sinew. The bow, as usual has recurved in the wrong direction, so that the bone/antler is on the outside, when as it would have been strung, it should be on the inside. One arm is broken. The other arm has an ink inscription now illegible by George Seton which begins: 'North American bison Bow....' The Warwick Museum label reads in… (See Merlin record for full description)
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