Nez Perce National Historical Park

Toy Cradleboard
Cradleboards were given to young girls to play with to help develop skills used when adulthood was reached. This cradleboard was made for a child. The cradle sack is made from red trade cloth and holds a cotton fabric doll. The facial features of the doll are hand embroidered and have human hair braids. On the left hand side of the board, just out of view, is a small beaded pouch that represents where the umbilical cord was kept. The only time the umbilical cord could be removed from the pouch, was if the child faced a life-threatening illness. The Medicine man or woman would use it in their healing.
Bison (Bos bison) Buckskin, wood, tradecloth, glass beads, hair. L 68.3, 31.2 cm
Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 1629



Toy Cradleboard Cradleboards were given to young girls to play with to help develop skills used when adulthood was reached. This cradleboard was made for a child. The cradle sack is made from red trade cloth and holds a cotton fabric doll. The facial features of the doll are hand embroidered and have human hair braids. On the left hand side of the board, just out of view, is a small beaded pouch that represents where the umbilical cord was kept. The only time the umbilical cord could be removed from the pouch, was if the child faced a life-threatening illness. The Medicine man or woman would use it in their healing. Bison (Bos bison) Buckskin, wood, tradecloth, glass beads, hair. L 68.3, 31.2 cm Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 1629
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