Clothing/Accessories

Clothing / Accessories

Item #05
Northern Plains War Shirt
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This beautiful shirt is based on the styles predominantly worn by senior members in most of the northwestern plains tribes, most notably among the Lakota (Sioux), Crow and Cheyenne peoples. These garments are commonly called war shirts or scalp shirts because the scalp lock decorations represent coups counted or brave deeds performed in battle. The scalp locks were also often donated by tribal members to their holy man to decorate his shirt, representing all the people that he watches over. This shirt is constructed of very high quality German buckskin, sueded on both sides just like the brain-tan buckskin originally used for garments. The body of the shirt is painted blue on the upper half to represent the sky and yellow on the lower half to represent earth, the upper arms are also painted blue, and decorative stripes are painted on the forearms. It's overall shape is accurately based on earlier shirts (pre circa 1860) that fit more like a poncho, sewn only at the arms, the hides were used with little trimming so the legs of the animal hang down under the arms and at the lower corners of the shirt, later designs being more tailored and sewn together down the sides. It is highly decorated over the shoulders and down the arms with extensive, genuine porcupine quill work - which is very labor intensive and time consuming to complete, and 114 locks of real human hair, wrapped at the base with heavy, red cotton thread. The shirt also features a lazy-stitch beaded yoke or neck flap (front and back) made from red wool trade cloth and fringed buckskin with aged tin cones, the neck opening is also lined with red wool trade cloth and sewn in place with yellow thread - another feature frequently seen on original shirts. A superb reproduction, this shirt is far superior in quality and accuracy than the majority of contemporary reproductions, it is completely hand made. Size is roughly adult medium.

In stock Price: $4,500 Buy now
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Item #16
Plains style leggings & breechclout
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This superb pair of leggings is based on the style worn by the Lakota (Sioux) people. These leggings very accurately reproduce this original style that was usually a very snug fit, following the contours of the wearers leg, ending at mid thigh with the tapered tops tying off at the hips to a belt. The decorations are also historically accurate, the block style lazy-stitch bead work is often seen on Cheyenne (who were very closely related to the Sioux) garments. The tightly beaded strips are each 16 inches long, using red, yellow and black "pony" trade beads, the strips are sewn onto the leggings with one bead for each stitch in slightly varying shades of blue, creating a nice border around the bead work. Running next to the bead work on each leg is a row of 21 real human hair and 2 red-dyed horse hair locks - the human hair representing victories in battle and the horse hair representing horses taken. The hair locks are all wrapped at the base with yellow-dyed genuine porcupine quills, as was seen historically on most garments among the plains Indians. These leggings are heavily fringed down the outer legs, the fringe moistened and twisted as was the common style. The buckskin used for this pair is hand tanned using soap and oil (instead of brains, as they are difficult to obtain), and then smoked, which gives the hide a darker color and a pleasant, campfire aroma - smoking also lets the buckskins stay soft after becoming wet. Included is a fringed buckskin breechclout, or breech cloth, which goes under the crotch and up over the belt front and back, hanging down like an apron. Both leggings and clout are rubbed with colored earth pigments (ochre on the clout, ochre and green on the leggings), there are also some thin, dark brown stripes painted on the calf area of the leggings and across the lower sections of the breechclout, both of these decorative elements were very often used on original garments. For extra authenticity, this pair were worn around a bit to give them more of an aged, broken in look. Size is roughly adult medium, also included is an elk hide belt (not pictured). This is an extremely high quality, museum grade replica.

In stock Price: $2,500 Buy now

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Item #22
Grizzly Bear claw necklace
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Grizzly bear claw necklaces were prized possessions among the plains Indians. The necklaces honored the bears which were greatly respected, and represented the strength and courage of the owner. A warrior who killed a grizzly was said to inherit the bear's power, and the number of claws in his necklace would show how many bears he had defeated - usually only the longer front claws were used, so 20 claws would mean 2 bears. The above necklace is based on an original piece which is part of the Warnock collection. It is made from 21 imitation grizzly bear claws which have been cast in very hard resin from actual grizzly claws, and then painstakingly hand-painted to very closely resemble the real thing. The other materials are, antiqued red-wool trade cloth, genuine vintage Italian seed beads, aged brass beads, and elk hide ties. Opened out, this very authentic looking piece measures 16 inches (not including ties), and the longest claws are 5 1/2 inches.

In stock Price: $325 Buy now
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Item #06
Breastplate
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This authentic-style breastplate is made from genuine bone hairpipe, antiqued to simulate age. It is based on actual museum examples. Other materials include solid brass beads, green turquoise beads, buckskin fringeing and neck/waist ties, horse hair drops, handpainted simulated red-tailed hawk feathers and genuine ermine tails. It is centered with an abalone disc with brass cones and dyed horse hair. A beautiful piece. The dimensions are 11 inches wide x 13 inches long.

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Item# 07
Breastplate
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This very authentically styled breastplate is based on various elements seen in several museum examples. It is constructed from genuine bone hairpipe that is stained to simulate age and is strung with solid brass beads and cobalt blue glass beads that are almost black but glow a luminescent blue when the light hits them . Other decorations include buckskin fringe, beaded drops with aged brass cones and a mother of pearl disc centered with a red glass bead and an extremely realistic hand-painted eagle feather. The neck and waist ties are made of very soft and strong buckskin. Approximate dimensions are 13 inches wide x 18 inches long.

In stock Price: $450 Buy now
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Item #08
Choker
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The above choker is based on the original style of many tribes, but features some contemporary design elements. It is constructed of genuine bone hairpipe with solid brass beads and leather spacers. The neck ties are a very soft and strong buckskin. The choker features a mother of pearl disc centered with a genuine turquoise nugget, hung with brass cones with dyed horse hair tassels, and is 14 inches long, not including ties. Size large.

In stock Price: $85 Buy now
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Item #12
Choker
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This choker is made from real bone hairpipe which has been darkened to give an aged look. Other materials include solid brass beads, sturdy leather spacers and buckskin neck ties. It is centered with genuine green turquoise beads and is strung with very strong simulated sinew. The choker is 12 inches long, not including ties. Size small/medium.

In stock Price: $65 Buy now

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Item #11
Coup Feathers
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Coup feathers were awarded to warriors for bravery in battle. When enough coup feathers were accumulated, a war bonnet was often made from them for the warrior. Our feathers are very authentic in style and are made from high quality hand-painted turkey feathers that very closely resemble the tail feathers of the immature golden eagle, which were most often used. They are tipped with rabbit fur and horsehair, the base is decorated with natural and dyed fluffs, and the quill is wrapped with red wool trade cloth tied with yellow thread. A buckskin lace is looped through the quill. approximate length (not including horsehair and lace) is 12 inches.

Price: $25 each Buy now

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