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FRINGED LANCE
This lance is typical of the type used by the Plains Indians in their hunt for food, particularly buffalo. The lance was not meant to be thrown so much as it was meant to be rammed into the animal. The trick was to let go of the lance at the right moment so as to get maximum force without toppling the horse and rider. The hand-forged steel blade gave it lethal cutting power. The leather fringe calls upon the power of the wind to drive the lance to its mark. The fringe has twenty-four strands, which is a multiple of four, thereby calling upon the four grandfather directions for guidance to the right spot. The colors of the owner., red and blue, are marked on the lance fringe which, in turn, identify any game killed by the lance as belonging to the owner’s family.
The blade, 12” long, is made of hand-forged iron. Approximately 72” overall.
Made by Native and Non-Native American Artists.
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