Downstairs we went, and in a great, quiet room with windows facing out towards a thick stand of trees, were walls stacked with artifacts. Ceramics and effigies were displayed in tall glass cases, and beneath them were wall-to-wall drawers full of period objects. We saw dozens of moccasins, each decorated carefully with minute glass beads and rawhide drawstrings. Equally intricate were the beaded vests, satchels and tomahawk sheaths.
There was a whole wall of drawers full of silver jewelry, many set with finely polished turquoise or quartz. There was no shortage of bone and teeth necklaces, tarnished silver horse bits, and large government-issue medallions. The Gilcrease's collection of pre-Columbian and northwestern artifacts is also quite large, and full of amazing objects. We saw clear quartz masks, jade effigies, Mayan ceramic stamps, Inuit carved tusks, and obsidian knives, to name a few. The quantity of ancient objects within my reach was overwhelming and, frankly, awesome.
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