E1671: Beaded Belt

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E1671

Classification Category:

3:Personal Artifacts ➞ Clothing ➞ Accessory ➞ belt

Marks/Labels:

Black writing on back end of belt: 3R-21AL6-749

Materials:

animal ➔ hide/skin ➔ leather
animal ➔ hide/skin ➔ rawhide
metal ➔ brass ➔ buttons
glass ➔ bead
binding agents ➔ adhesive ➔ synthetic glue

Dimensions:

92.5 cm L
5.8 cm W
Thickness: 0.5 cm

Provenance of Object:

The geometric design features both triangular and diamond shapes with a series of "steps"/indentations along the edges, which is characteristic of the Lakota Sioux. This element typically symbolizes a tipi or arrowhead.

Production Date:

ca. 1947 according to donor. Color of yellow beads only available post-1900.

Use/Function:

Belt; worn around waist as decoration, functioned to keep pants up

Source Locality:

Lakota reservation along the Missouri River in South Dakota

Acquisition Date:

1947

Description:

This beaded belt comes from a Lakota Reservation along the Missouri River in South Dakota. It was gifted to Dale Henning as a child in ca. 1947. The leather belt features stepped triangles and diamonds characteristic of the Lakota Sioux, which are thought to symbolize tipis or arrowheads. The beading technique is lazy stitch, where whole rows of beads are attached only at the start and finish of the row.

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