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Peyote Box

Johnny Hoof Native American
ca. 1975
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
Johnny Hoof created this Peyote box for Harding Big Bow, former president of the Native American Church of Oklahoma, as a gift from his family. Hoof painted Big Bow’s name on the front, along with a pair of iconic Peyote birds. The image on the back represents Dawn Woman, a prominent figure in the origin myths of the Church. Similar boxes are still used today to store and transport feather fans and gourd rattles, among other ritual objects.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Peyote Box
  • Artist: Johnny Hoof (Native American, Arapaho, Oklahoma, active late 20th century)
  • Date: ca. 1975
  • Geography: United States, Oklahoma
  • Culture: Arapaho
  • Medium: Commercial leather, metal, pigment
  • Dimensions: 9 1/2 × 7 × 21 1/2 in. (24.1 × 17.8 × 54.6 cm)
  • Classification: Hide-Containers
  • Credit Line: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of Pearl Big Bow (87.60)
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing