Gifts of Pride and Love

With such words, Kiowa and Comanche people express their deep connection to their traditional lattice cradles. Prevalent from 1870 to 1930, these cradles represented a unique, yet extremely practical, art form. These gifts of pride and love reflected close networks, which remained intact despite the difficult transition to reservation life, new religions, government boarding schools, and allotment of tribal lands. This book, a beautiful homage to the artisans who crafted cradleboards, includes a history of the origins of lattice cradles as well as essays by eleven descendants of cradle makers. Forty color and over eighty black-and-white photographs vividly display the creativity and imagination found in these lovingly produced cradles. Reminding people of the Kiowas' and the Comanches' long, arduous struggles to create and maintain a viable identity, the cradles featured in this book connect us to the past.