Brooklyn Museum Collection

Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund

Long bodice (collar) of dentalium shell is a pre-style form of decoration because these shells were hard to obtain. The Sioux would have traded for them. This would be for a special woman and handed down in families. The very heavy dress does not look reworked and was worn very little and probably only used for special occasions. Blue wool trade cloth, red, white, blue ribbons might indicate July 4th reference. A slit is at the back of the dress and the basic pattern is T-shaped. Four-direction designs on the bottom would be prestige decoration and the little flowers along the bottom are unusual, odd. The bells are different colors. The body of the dress is machine sewn.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Blue wool leggings with ribbon work in blue, green, red, purple, gold, and beige. "G-String" was curator Stewart Culin's name for a pubic covering. Such an object is missing and is not in any written record so no description can be made.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Northern Plains area. The drum has a red painted patch glued onto drumhead. The design is a buffalo with a zigzag line around it but no power lines emanating directly from the buffalo. There are red areas of pigment on drumhead. Wool and hide fringe dangles from drum. Remnants of silk ribbons are attached with nails along the edge. It has a knot in the hide ties in the middle back. This was possibly made as a showpiece as would have been very awkward to hold and play. This is a drum that would have ceremonial significance These are specialized.

This otter skin cap tail would generally be worn around the neck or attached to a choker. It has a side edge of loom beadwork in white with red and blue designs. The blue cloth heart on the top edge is edged in white and red and is beaded on the reverse side. The support material which is hidden by the fur is covered with reverse appliqué ribbon work which conceals the fur fold and seams.

A T- shaped stone pipe associated with a red calico cotton bag that appears to have plant contents (unopened).