Caddo Nation Indians have produced wonderful pottery, beautiful woodwork and mysteriously intense leather work since prehistoric periods. Pottery is the crown jewel in the Caddo arts and crafts culture, but these people are responsible for some of the most intense, beautiful and celebrated decorative arts east of the Rocky Mountains.
History of
The Caddo Indians are a tribe of Indians who originally inhabited the southern plains, including Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Most remaining Caddo live in Oklahoma. The Caddo Nation lives under its own government, has its own laws and police and many other public service departments, just like any other nation. Interestingly, Caddo Indians are also U.S. citizens, and are required to comply with all U.S. laws. Though Caddo chiefs were historically chosen by a council of warriors and were all male, the modern Caddo Nation has council members and chairmen who are elected similar to U.S. state representatives, senators and governors. Women can hold these positions today as well.
Most modern Caddo speak English, but some elders and others also speak native Caddo. The language is nearly dead, as most children are not learning it anymore, but there is a movement to keep the language alive.
Type
The Caddo Nation has historically produced beautiful arts and crafts, but it is especially known for its pottery. For a millennium, Caddo women were the greatest artisans of pottery craft of the eastern woodlands. Other tribes in the area produced utilitarian vessels. There were some beautiful and fantastic works of pottery artisanship by other tribes, but none really came close to the variation of style, quality, creativity and artistic expression that came to be expected of Caddo pottery.
The Caddo used their pottery creations as more than simply works of art. The women of the Caddo Nation produced containers, cooking pots, water vessels, dishes, ornaments and pipes that are today viewed as celebrated works of art. The engravings and decorations that adorned the vessels expressed many things, including an idea of daily life, celebration and sadness. Many vessels are said to express sadness at the loss of a loved one or celebration of providence. A gallery of both ancient and modern Caddo pottery with 360 degree photos is available at http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/clay/galleries/index.html.
Type
Besides Caddo pottery, Caddos created other notable works of art. Caddo Indians were proficient at leather work, basket making and woodcarving. The Caddo utilized leather in many ways. Deer, buffalo and bear skins were utilized in leather work often. This tribe had a mysterious secret method of dying leather a deep, rich black that they did not share. Historians theorize they used a plant dye to do this, but the secret has been forgotten.
Leather craft included buckskin clothing, moccasins, beaded moccasins, pouches and ceremonial dress. There are still many examples of Caddo leather work available today.
Type
Most Caddo woodwork has been lost to society because wood rots quickly in the Caddo region. There are many Spanish descriptions of beautiful carved wood ceremonial masks used by the Caddo, and there are a few examples still around, but most have deteriorated significantly. Also mentioned by the Spanish are the bois d'arc bows that the Caddo traded long distance with many cultures, that are described as magnificently carved wooden bows. The Caddo arts and crafts also included carved bone used for both utilitarian and ornamental purposes.
Significance
The Caddo traded their pottery, bead work, leather work and woodwork with many cultures and had a sophisticated long distance trade network. Through this network, marine shell and other items such as turquoise and copper ware obtained for use in crafts are often found in burial mounds for elite and well-off trial members.
Caddo Nation art is a beautiful example of Native American art from prehistory through present day. Though the number of Caddo Indians have dwindled, the significance of their contribution to modern art has not. Current members of the Caddo Nation still produce beautiful modern and traditional art, and it is hoped that this Nation's heritage in regards to language and art continues well into the future.
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