#native american plains culture area – @arthistoryanimalia on Tumblr

It’s #WorldTurtleDay on a #TurtleTuesday + #TwoForTuesday!

Here are two 19th century turtle-shaped umbilical cord amulets at the Penn Museum; 1st one seen on a recent visit, 2nd one back in 2019…thought it looked different than I had remembered it! 😉 (These charms are a Native American Plains Culture Area tradition, usually turtles for newborn girls and lizards for boys.)

Turtle Umbilical Amulet #1: Assiniboine (Nakoda) culture, c. 1860 Penn Museum

Turtle Umbilical Amulet #2: Likely Lakota (Sioux) culture, c. 1880 Penn Museum

#Native American Plains Culture Area #Native American art #Indigenous art #amulet #beadwork #19th century art #Penn Museum #museum visit #World Turtle Day #Two for Tuesday #Turtle Tuesday #animals in art #turtle #charm