Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund

Charles Stewart Smith Memorial Fund

This skirt would be worn wrapped from back around the sides. The open front would then be covered by a fringed apron. This skirt shows signs of much wear. Most of the materials it is made from are from local sources with the exception of two copper discs, shaped and cut like the abalone. All the ornaments in addition to being aesthetically pleasing would make a sound as the woman moved in the dance. A small blue bead is fastened in the fringe.

This would be used on top of the head to steady carrying baskets.

Museum Expediton 1907, Museum Collection Fund

Small hide pouch with beaded bear claw design on one side and different design on reverse that has a puffy from with three triangles arranged aroud the outer rim.

The object is a spear case that is part of material purcased as belonging to Red Cloud. It has a long tubular hide section at the top and an attached triangular-shaped hide pouch at the bottom. The tubular portion contains cut out geometric patterns and is edged with red and blue woolen cloth that is attached with hide binding. It has two loosely attached beaded hide rectangles trimmed with red woolen cloth and fringed at one end. The front of the pouch portion has blue, white, red and yellow beadwork forming vertical triangular designs in different sizes. It is edged with long hide fringe strips. This type of Crow case was often carried across the saddle of women to honor their husbands as seen in historical photographs. They are still made today for the same purpose and are an important part of Crow regalia.

Sheath for a large knife of rawhide partly painted red with beaded decoration in white, orchid, blues, red and yellow. The sheath is also studded with a few nails along the edge. A triangle is cut out from the hide on one side. This is part of the group purchased as belonging to Red Cloud.

This fringe is made from a partially tanned strip of buffalo hide that is wrapped at the top with bird quills. Several lines of this quill wrapped fringe combine to form repeated blocks of color. Usually quillwork comes down longer. The top of the quilled section has a row of white beads that resemble olivella shells.Usually quillwork comes down longer.From left to right the blocks are: blue, black, and brown (perhaps once orange) repeated in sequence. .The shell beads are unusual and the porcupine quill and white beads come from over in the Minnesota area. It is too wide for a pipe bag. Possibly Mandan-Hidatsa area or Sioux.

Gift of Sasha Nyary and Family