This arrangement of beaded strips represents the contrasting styles used to decorate shirts and leggings from the Southern, Central and Northern Plains. From this diversity of form, we begin to see the emergence of tribal beadwork styles which gradually codify in the second half of the 19th century.

(left)

Shirt Strip

Upper Missouri, possibly Crow, pre-1850

Montana, North Dakota

Native tanned buffalo hide, pony beads, sinew

16” long and 3” wide

Ex William Plitt, NM

#51110

(center)

Leggings Strip

Central Plains, possibly Cheyenne, pre-1850

Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming

Native tanned elk hide, pony beads, sinew

29” long and 3.25” wide

Ex Willliam Plitt, NM

#51109

(right)

Shoulder or Legging Strip

Jicarilla or Ute, pre-1860

Colorado, New Mexico

Native tanned elk hide, pigment, pony beads, sinew

11.25” long and 3” wide

#51113