Traditional Clothing
An unidentified Sioux Native American made this garment, titled by the National Museum of the American Indian as "Woman's Dress," between 1900 and 1910. The artist likely made the dress for casual, everyday use, rather than ceremonial purposes, and used animal hides, beads, and sinew as materials. Interestingly, the dress uses the conventional style and beadwork of Great Plains Natives, but also prominently features non-Native elements like the American flag and other symbols along the neckline and shoulders.
Unidentified Sioux artist. Woman's Dress, animal hide, 1900-1910 (National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.). http://www.nmai.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?irn=27531&catids=0&objtypetxt=clothing&src=1-5&page=6.
An unidentified Sihasapa Lakota
artist made this dress, titled by the National Museum of the American Indian as
"Dress Painted with Men's Battle Exploits," around 1890. The dress's
creator used a combination of cotton, wool, and denim for materials, and probably
intended its painted scenes to demonstrate a specific individual's successes in
battle. While the dress does not feature beadwork or elaborate patterns, the
painted images show the use of both guns and horses in combat, demonstrating
the influence of trade with non-Native settlers.
Unidentified Sihasapa Lakota (Blackfoot Sioux) artist. Dress
Painted with Men's Battle Exploits, wool and cotton cloth, c.1890 (National
Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.). http://www.nmai.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?irn=188549&catids=0&cultxt=Sioux&objtypetxt=clothing&src=1-5&page=2.
An unidentified Otoe artist
possibly made this coat, titled by the National Museum of the American Indian
as "Man's Coat," around 1895. The coat features a generally dark
color scheme with some blue, red, yellow, and white in its hand-sewn decorations
and trim. The artist used a large variety of materials, including wool and
cotton cloth, beads, ribbons, and strips of animal hide. The garment also
includes beaded images of horses, humans, and cows, which
show an appreciation for animal life often found throughout artwork of the
Great Plains region.
Unidentified Otoe artist. Man's Coat, wool and cotton cloth, c.1895 (National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.). http://www.nmai.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?irn=22203&catids=0&objtypetxt=clothing&objmattxt=hide&src=1-5&page=2.
An unidentified Sioux artist assembled this pair of men's moccasins in the 1890s by hand-sewing together skin, cloth, rawhide, and glass beads with thread. Elaborate geometric beadwork covers most of the outer surface on the top and rear of the feet, and rawhide makes up the soles. The artist probably intended the intricate bead designs to indicate the wearer's high social status, and used rawhide for the soles to ensure comfort. The moccasins also feature durable materials that could have withstood long journeys, making them ideal for a Great Plains Native's nomadic lifestyle.
Unidentified Sioux artist. Moccasin (Pair), skin and cloth, c. 1890 (Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA). http://collections.theautry.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=M609916;type=101.
An unidentified Tsimshian
Native American made this ceremonial headdress around 1870. The artist created
the wooden piece specifically for the Eagle Dance, a spiritual ceremony meant to
honor the animal's freedom and control over thunder and rain. Judging by the
intricate detail of the headdress's multiple bird figures and the carefully
applied paint, the artist probably spent a large amount of time creating the
piece. He or she clearly wanted to make a spiritually valuable work of art
worthy of inclusion in the important dance.
Unidentified Tsimshian artist. Headdress Used in Eagle Dance, wood and paint, c. 1870 (National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.). http://www.nmai.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?irn=20084&catids=0&objtypetxt=clothing&src=1-5&page=3.