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  OUTSTANDING, NATIVE AMERICAN, QUILLED, TIN CONE & FEATHERED BREASTPLATE WITH AN INTERESTING BEADED STRAP, PROBABLY LAKOTA SIOUX, CA 1870-80
Dimensions (inches): Breastplate - 30.5" x 14.5", Frame - 40.75" x 24"
Description:
American Indian breastplate, with staves made of parfleche and wrapped with porcupine quill, decorated with representations of the American flag and geometric designs in red, white, and blue. Bound on the interior with red, black, and yellow calico fabric, the left, right, and lower edges are fringed with hand-made, tin cones, stuffed with feathers dyed persimmon red. Three strands of cotton cord that allowed the breastplate to be worn are strung with light blue glass trade beads, in an unusual oval form and press-decorated with a nubbed pattern.

Parfleche (thinly stretched hide, usually buffalo) was traditionally employed to make envelope-like receptacles. Individuals would use these to carry dried meats and other food items, such as pemmican. These were typically painted in bright colors. The term parfleche was actually used much more loosely for all manner of rawhide objects made of the material.

Parfleche underlay for an article such as this breastplate was often recycled. That is the case here. Exposed areas of the rectangular staves exhibit paint decoration from the previous item that the hide was used to create.

Also known as the Teton Sioux, the Lakota Sioux occupied the areas within modern day North and South Dakota. Mounting: The breastplate has been carefully hand-stitched to its background, which is made of 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated to reduce and set the dye. The mount was placed in a black-painted Italian molding with a deep, rectangular profile, to which a rippled profile molding, black with gold highlights, was added as a liner. A shadowbox was used to keep the object away from the glazing, which is museum grade, clear, anti-reflective plexiglas of the highest quality.

Condition: There is some breakdown in the quill. Areas of peeling were stabilized and scattered areas with color loss were carefully and professionally restored.
   
Primary Color: red, salmon, persimmon, white, blue
Earliest Date: 1870
Latest Date: 1880
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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