Plains Rattle and a Hide Cover Bentwood Frame, Possibly Shown at the 1893 Chicago's World's Fair at Sitting Bull's Cabin

fourth quarter 19th century

lot of 2, includes:

a bentwood frame covered with buffalo hide, length 21 inches

a scrotum rattle, length 8 inches

Descended through the family of Parker Barrows Wickham (1851-1916), one of the purchasers of Sitting Bull's cabin.

Shortly after the death of Sitting Bull, Parker Barrows Wickham along with H.S. Parkins, A.E. Thorberg, and Christ Nordstrom purchased Sitting Bull's Cabin and its contents. The outfit consisted of one cottonwood log cabin 36 x 18, 8 feet in height, lighted by two windows and "shingled with dirt." Also one ghost pole 10 inches in diameter at the butt and 15 feet in length, highly decorated with red and blue paint: 14 buffalo robes, painted and bedecked with all manner of fish and animals, besides war scenes illustrative of the Custer massacre, all which are painted in an artistic Indian manner. Included in the bargain were four wagon loads of trinkets, Indian relics and curiosities (Minneapolis Journal, C.S. Branch 1891).

The cabin was reassembled at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair where Wickham attempted to sell trinkets from the purchase. Letters between Wickham and Thorberg describe a rocky start due to inclement weather and lack of attendance: "If it keeps up this way many days longer we will have to raise more money to keep the "shack" afloat."