Sioux Warrior Ceremonial Water Vessel, Early 20th Century
buffalo bladder skin, wood
Vessel: 57 x 6 1/2 in. (144.78 x 16.51 cm.), Arrow: 24 in. (60.96 cm.)

"Sometimes a Sioux boy would slip away to join a war party, uninvited. When he was discovered, he was given an opportunity to show his sill and courage. Some member of the party would make for him a 'warrior's cup' - a buffalo bladder skin, the opening stretched on a little wooden hoop attached to a long forked stick. One prong of the fork was cut short, and to the bottom of the 'cup' was fastened a long cord. The forked stick was decorated, usually with magpie feathers, for the magpie was one of the first birds to arrive on a battlefield, and he warned of enemies approaching. The boy was told to locate a spring in enemy country and fill the cup with water, which he was to bring back to the chief of the war party. To prove the spring was really in enemy territory he left an arrow from his quiver, with his personal crest, stuck in the ground near the spring so someone could later check up on him if there were any doubts. If the boy completed the trial, he was expected to present the water to the chief while holding the stick in which the bladder was attached in one and and the tong in the other. When the chief attempted to take the 'cup,' the boy pulled the thong, splashing water all over him. Then everybody laughed, for it was as much as saying to the chief 'Well! You sent me on an errand you didn't think I could accomplish, but I did it, so now, take that!' The boy thus proved his competence and courage, and could go along as an accepted member of a party of experienced warriors."
Frame: 65 5/8 x 15 7/8 x 5 1/4 in. (166.69 x 40.32 x 13.34 cm.)