Creation Date

1931 – 1955

Description

"A turtle-shaped lapel pin, 2 inches long, made of medium brown leather which is used for the body and appendages. The shell is of white beads decorated with a star design in red, orange, yellow and green beads. This was made by a Sioux."

2007 - The head of the turtle is 3 dimensional - stuffed and stitched together with very fine stitching, while the legs and tail are flat. There is no pin attached to this artifact - only a white beaded loop. The eyes are made of white beads and the background of the shell design is white.

Turtles of this size were often umbilical cord holders. When the umbilical cord fell off a baby, it was placed in a turtle or lizard shaped amulet and hung in the baby's cradle board. As the child grew, the amulet was kept throught the person's life. Turtles represented long life and good health.