Shield of Buffalo Hiie

A shield made of buffalo hide and decorated with red cloth, feathers, and a jingle made of bits of iron. Collected from the Missouri River Valley in 1867. Formerly part of the U.S. Department of War collections. Possibly Sioux.

FROM CARD: "OLD EXHIBIT LABEL READS "SHIELD. THICK, ROUND PIECE OF BUFFALO HIDE. DECORATIONS: TWO TALL GREEN CONES SUPPORTING SMALL RED SEGMENT; AROUND THE EDGE A STRIP OF RED CLOTH FROM WHICH HAND A NUMBER OF FEATHERS, MANY ARTIFICIALLY SERRATED, AND A JINGLE MADE OF BITS OF IRON. SIOUX INDIANS. 24 IN. DIAM. UPPER MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY, 1867."

Entered in the orginal ledger catalog as from the War Department with the location given as Upper Missouri Valley. An old exhibit label identifies it as Sioux Indian, but there is nothing in the records to support this. Diam: 24" Design painted directly on thick rawhide base. which is pierced with many holes for attachments that are no longer present in addition to the usual set of four holes on each side for attachment of handles.