Title

Beaded Buckskin Dress

Creation Date

1931 – 1955

Description

Buckskin dress. The dress features seed beaded shoulders, shells, pony beads, fringe, and clinker cones. It was a gift to Cleora Helbing and she wore it on special occasions. 
Donor's Note: "This is a white buckskin dress designed and made by Mrs. Mary Inkanish, a full-blood Cheyenne woman. The design, authentic in every way, is Plains Indian. The beading is very fine. The Indians used to barter for the sea shells, which trim the yoke of the dress, with the Western Indians. The little metal pieces that clank out at rhythm when one dances were made by Mr. Inkanish, Mrs. Inkanish's husband. There are 6 deerskins in this dress. The fringes take a lot of buckskin. The orange dye used on the triangular bottom border is red clay mixed with vegetable dye into a paint. There are know instances where Indians buried in ceremonial dress for over 100 years have been excavated, and this orange paint on their clothes is found to be as fresh and beautiful as if it were new."