Reproductions
Buckskin
Old beads
Hudsons Bay blankets
Raw products
I am offering for sale an 1840s Crow / Plateau-style war shirt reproduction with quill-wrapped horsehair strips. It is not copy of any existing piece, it is my own creation, but it fully respects period and tribal patterns in every detail and aspect based on deep research and examination of existing original pieces.
Side seam moccasins are the oldest known type of moccasins from the Great plains. During the first half of the 19th century, they were the only type of shoes worn by most of the Great plains and Plateau tribes. They consisted of a single piece of leather and had soft soles. Some of them were decorated with quill and beadwork. Very often they were made for trading purposes. Winter moccasins with the fur on were also made following this pattern.
War shirts are some of the most beautiful artifacts plains indians produced. They were not just interesting and attractive pieces of outerwear, but rather a sign of social status. Only distinguished warriors had the right to wear such kind of shirts. The article discusses the meaning of war shirts, constructions details, importance of four beaded or quilled strips, meaning of human scalp locks, ermine tubes and leather fringes, pigment painting, pictographs and many more.
There is a big difference between various replica makers, regarding authenticity and artistic level. Learn about how good reproductions should look like and what features they should have. Learn about period, tribal and material authenticity and accuracy, about right proportions, design, look and touch. About proper patina and many more.
Wool blankets played an important role in the Indian trade, representing about 60 percent of the volume of traded European goods. They were manufactured in European factories in a wide range of sizes and weights. Points were narrow lines of woolen fiber woven into the edge of the blanket. The number of lines determined the size and weight of the blanket. The famous Hudsons Bay company introduced a distinctive design, wide stripes of alternating color, mostly one on each edge. This is how the iconic Hudson’s Bay point blankets came into existence.
Beads manufactured nowadays differ from those made one or two hundred years ago, particulary in colour shades and shape. Old beads were all of European origin and made of glass. The articless discusses history of seed and pony beads and differences between historic and modern beads colours and shapes. It contains images of many Plains Indians pre-reservation items and list of the most widespread 19th century bead colours.