Saddle Blanket - Sioux

Saddle blanket is H-shaped, having canvas center with two slits for girth strap. Embroidered borders are in lazy-stitched beadwork (twelve rows down length sides; fourteen rows across width sides) onto leather. Three main design/element groupings repeat and alternate throughout the two symmetrical sides on a white background. Beginning at the bottom four corners/tabs is the first design which includes: a pair of central triangles with inner crosses (red boarder, green, steel, gold); and two pairs of opposing forked triangles/"flags", bar and fork motifs (deep blue, steel, red). The second design includes: asymmetrically grouped triangles/"flags" and diamonds (almost reminiscent of a stylized figure; in blues, red, greens, brass, steel). The third design includes: a grouping very similar to the first, but of varying colors (medium blue, red, greens, plum, brass, steel). Long leather fringe (9" maximum length) decorates each of the four bottom corners/tabs. On the bottom edge of the two front tabs, six original brass trade bells remain attached (to the top edge of the fringe). Remnants of decorative gold silk ribbon and metal sequins border edges of the beadwork leather strips.