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Crupper

ca. 1840
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
On festive occasions, wealthy families used a wide, highly decorated crupper to secure their horses’ saddles. A crupper consists of leather straps that extend back along a horse’s hindquarters, loop under the tail, and attach to the rear of the saddle. Cruppers with simple rawhide straps were for daily use. Here, blue pony beads outline large rosettes of dyed porcupine quills, and a red trade-cloth panel is embellished with delicate silk appliqué.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Crupper
  • Date: ca. 1840
  • Geography: United States, Northeastern Plains
  • Culture: Northeastern Plains
  • Medium: Rawhide, native-tanned leather, wool cloth and yarn, silk, glass beads, porcupine quills, metal cones
  • Dimensions: Length: 34 5/8 in. (87.9 cm)
    Width: 29 1/8 in. (74 cm)
  • Classification: Hide-Costumes
  • Credit Line: Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Quebec (V-X-393)
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing