Relics of the American West: 1850-1920 - ONLINE ONLY
Lot 2330:
Description
This striking Plains-style hide war shirt features elaborate hand-stitched seed beadwork in a traditional geometric palette of white, red, yellow, and deep blue. The garment is constructed from soft-tanned buckskin, adorned with extensive fringe and traditional “coup” locks of dark horsehair or human hair suspended from red-wrapped quills or thread. The central bib and shoulder strips display classic “cross” and “block” motifs, reflecting 19th-century aesthetics often seen in Sioux or Cheyenne regalia. While it captures the spirit of the late 1800s, the uniform consistency and brightness of the beads suggest it may be a high-quality 20th-century commemorative or powwow piece. This is an altogether clean example with minimal soiling, showing only light stiffness in the fringe and some scattered thinning consistent with age and display, but the beadwork remains remarkably intact. H 29″, W 17″, D 2″. Please see photos.
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