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Catlin's drawing of the Missouri chief Hawchekesugga (He Who Kills the Osages) wearing a bear-claw necklace. Engraving from Catlin's Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians, 1841.
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Grizzly Bear Claw Ornaments These grizzly claw ornaments, possibly once part of a warrior's necklace, were in the collection of the Peale Museum. A blue bead has been inserted into the drilled perforation on one of the claws. The two Peale exhibit labels shown here referring to grizzly claws were acquired by the Peabody along with the former Peale Museum objects provided by the Boston Museum in 1899. A notation suggesting that the necklace was not received by the Peabody makes the attribution of these ornaments to the Lewis and Clark expedition uncertain. Grizzly claw necklaces and amulets were difficult to acquire, both socially and physically. Of the Nez Perce, Lewis wrote, "This nation esteem the killing of one of those tremendous animals (the bear) equally great with that of an enemy in the field of action. We gave the claws of those bear which Collins had killed to [chief] Hohastillpelp." During the early nineteenth century, only exceptional warriors and leaders might earn the right to make and wear such insignia. Grizzly claw necklaces were especially popular among prairie tribes such as the Iowa, Missouri, Mesquakie, Sauk, and Oto, some of whom Lewis and Clark encountered on their way up the Missouri, River in 1804. They were also worn by men of Great Lakes, Plains and Plateau tribes, including the Mandan and Hidatsa. During the early trade period, bear claw necklaces often incorporated a row of blue glass beads. Although initially skeptical of the reputation of the grizzly, members of the Corps of Discovery learned through experience to treat the bold and powerful animals with care. Lewis wote that among the varieties of grizzlies encountered by the expedition, those found along the Missouri (now extinct) were exceptionally "fierce." The size and strength of the bears, unknown in the east, excited great curiosity among the public. Charles Willson Peale exhibited several live grizzly cubs in his museum but was forced to destroy them when they matured; later, George Catlin exhibited a living grizzly in Europe along with his collection of Indian objects.
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Native American Objects and the American Quest for Commerce and Science
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