Hide Robe

Buffalo or bison hide robe for a child is made from the furred and tanned hide of an American bison calf, including head, tail, and upper legs. Hide's underside is brain- tanned and decorated with box and border design thought to composed of green, yellow/gold, blue, and peach rectangles, boxes and triangles. The border surrounds a center rectangle design which includes inner vertical stripes (green, peach, blue) and two symmetrical sides of alternating triangles separated by a zigzagging line (green). Triangles of various sizes and in the above colors border the center rectangle as well as decorate the four corners of the large geometric outer border. this child's robe serves as an example of the larger robes used by Plains culture. The colors as well as the design are reminiscent of those seen on a Soiux parfleche. Indeed, this robe may be Sioux, however the donor/ source indicated Mandan.