Two Feathers
by Sylvia Thornton
Title
Two Feathers
Artist
Sylvia Thornton
Medium
Photograph - Photograph Digital
Description
From eHow.com :
At full maturity, turkeys have 3,500 feathers, most of which are disposed at the time they are killed, or taken by people, such as Native American artists, for crafts or tribal regalia. In certain Native American Indian tribes, feathers are used ceremonially or for warmth, and like many other parts of an animal used after death, feathers were most often seen as a powerful symbol.
Turkey feathers that are from the body or a turkey are called T-Base, and are very popular to collect or use for crafts. Turkey Marabou, a particular breed of turkey, produce feathers that are soft, able to be dyed, and often used by Indians such as the Danzantes Aztecas and Native Americans. Barred wild turkey wing pointer feathers are used for calligraphy or arrow making.
According to the website Symbolic-Meanings, turkey feathers were used in groups of four by the Hopi Indians in rituals. The number four symbolized the four winds, while the turkey represented the Earth. In ceremonies, the four turkey feathers meant that man had no control over the Earth. The website KivaTrading states that feathers are a Pueblo prayer symbol that are connected to the bird (and the bird's symbolic value) from which they are taken. Turkey feathers are used to decorate kachina masks or as parts of rituals.
The website NativeTech.org notes that while turkey feathers were worn in ritual head dresses, they also were used as clothing. Turkey feathers were worn in 1600 by Northeastern Native Americans to protect their bodies from the harsh winter cold. Woven together with string and feathers, Native Americans overlapped turkey feathers in a pattern that resembled the bird's back. Mothers would often make these for children.
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October 27th, 2013
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