Crow-Stitch - "Transmontane" Beading Style
Porcupine Quillwork
Quill Knife Sheath |
Huron Moccasins |
Rawhide Parfleche
Parfleche |
Lakota Bags and Pouches |
Brain-tanning and Smoking of Hides
Introduction of European Trade Beads in the 19th Century
The Crow-Stitch, also known as "Transmontane," Beading Style (throughout plains and plateau communities)
Work on brain-tanned deer hide, or trade cloth and canvas.
A. Typically, any given piece of work would employ three primary beading techniques. It was a rare piece that used only one technique.
2. (A) Overlay-stitch for the white outlines
3. (B) Lane-stitch (also known as the "lazy-stitch" ) for borders and central lanes.
4. Zipper-edging stitch, most common found on old beadwork along edges and sides of pieces.
Crow Horse Collar |
B. Seven colors primarily used by the Crow: light blue, lavender, white (emblematic of purity), dark blue, red (represents property, blood or desire for revenge), yellow and green (represents earth). Black (symbolized revenge accomplished or clouds) and orange seldom used. The meaning of the colors, however, is in most cases quite subjective and varied.
2. In fact, white beads used sparingly, primarily for outlining major design motifs.
3. Red flannel trade cloth also employed.
Crow Cradle Board |
C. Although women rarely produced two pieces that were identical, was is a marked tendency in Crow designs and patterns. Most geometric
2. Small isosceles triangle, either of solid or subdivided horizontal stripes of different color. The apex of the triangle touches a band of beadwork or an angle of a much larger triangle. Seemed to have a particular fondness for this design.
3. Large diamond outlined with beads of contrasting color. Very typical of pipe bags, cradle boards and blanket strips.
4. An hourglass shape formed by two isosceles triangles joined at their apex.
5. Floral designs of leaves and stems as well as flowers on dresses and other articles of clothing, as well as moccasins, leggings and belts and belt pouches.
Sundance Belt. Made by Lucy Real Bird for Frey, ca 1977 |
Lakota Dress |
Shoshone Moccasins |
Pipe and bag (quill and beaded) belonging to Black Elk, Lakota Holy Man. Given to Tom Yellowtail. Photographed 1976 |
Example of Crow pipe bag, inspired by actual bag ca. 1850, maker: Kay Miller (1998)
Crow Couple ca 1890s |