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Saddle Blanket

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.
The embellishment on this saddle blanket shows the transition from using porcupine quills to using beads during this period. Although the artist embraced the rich visual possibilities presented by beads, she relied on a simple quillwork pattern for the bold, contrasting designs. The blanket was made to rest beneath a woman’s saddle. Splendidly adorned blankets, like this one, were used on social occasions, such as a parade or camp movement, and would have conveyed the wealth and prestige of its owner.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saddle Blanket
  • Date: ca. 1840
  • Geography: United States, North or South Dakota
  • Culture: Lakota (Teton Sioux)
  • Medium: Native-tanned leather, glass beads, wool cloth
  • Dimensions: Length: 64 in. (162.6 cm)
    Width: 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm)
  • Classification: Leather
  • Credit Line: State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines (I196)
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing