Elk Antler Pyramid

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Elk Antler Pyramid

Date

July 11, 1833

Dimensions

8 3/4 × 10 15/16 in. (22.2 × 27.8 cm)

Medium

Graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.174

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

In July 1833, between Forts Union and McKenzie, the travelers stopped to examine a remarkable pyramid of elk antlers on the prairie. The ground in all directions was littered with antlers cast off during the bulls' annual shedding. Each Blackfeet hunting party that had passed this place had collected antlers and added them to an ever growing mound. Sometimes the antler tines were marked with red paint to indicate the number in the party. By the time Maximilian saw this pyramid it had grown to an impressive size, standing over fifteen feet high and containing more than a thousand antlers. It was intended as a charm to insure successful hunting. Vignette XXI of the atlas of aquatints shows a similar scene with running elk instead of human figure.

References in Journal

July 11, 1833

Labels:

structure

Approximate Depicted Location:

Area between Fort Union and Fort McKenzie