Native American (Cheyenne, Montana)
AmericanDress, ca. 1890
Not on view
Deerskin, glass beads, tin bells and deer fur
Dimensions52 1/2 × 48 in. (133.4 × 121.9 cm)
Museum purchase from the Chandler/Pohrt Collection, 1985.38
The clothing of the Southern Plains tribes (Kiowa, Comanche, Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho) demonstrates an artistic sensibility that is distinct from their northern neighbors. The decoration of shirts and dresses is characterized by the minimal use of beadwork, the frequent painting of the tanned hide garment (in varying shades of yellow, red or green) and the extensive use of hide fringe as a decorative element. The Southern Plains aesthetic is well represented by this outstanding dress.
