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Sioux Man’s Pictorial Beaded Shirt

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:25,000.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
Sioux Man’s Pictorial Beaded Shirt
Preview: Phoenix Marriott Mesa - 200 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201
Preview Period:
Thursday January 27 -- 3:00 pm-7:00 pm
Friday January 28 -- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday January 29 – 9:00 am -4:30 pm
Pictorial beaded strips over the shoulders and down the sleeves with hand & geometric designs in red, blue and green on white field. Stained yellow and blue hide shirt with fringe and hairlock suspensions. Beaded triangular tabs (front & back). Fine condition, minor stiffness, c 1880 LAKOTA SHIRT by Benson L Lanford Buckskin shirts with hairlocks, ermine streamers and elaborate quilled or beaded strips figure preeminently in the realm of Plains Indian material culture. For the people themselves these shirts traditionally signify that the wearer has reached a pinnacle in life, and that he is of admirable character-- wise, considerate, generous. What is more the man has no doubt distinguished himself as a protector of his community, and has participated in or even lead forays against the foe. Having “War Shirt” is the term commonly applied to garments of this sort, but the shirts were not exclusive to warfare. In reference to the scalplocks regularly attached to the shirts, “scalp shirt” is another commonly applied term. Scalplocks, small bundles of human hair prepared for attachment, typically border the quilled or beaded strips that extend over the shoulders and along the arms. In early times locks from enemy scalps were indeed made and are present on shirts. Particularly in later times, however, locks of hair taken from family members are relatives pertain more to the concept of having those close to one “walking with” the wearer. (READ MORE ABOUT THE HAND MOTIF p 131)