Framed Mid-20th C. Lakota (Sioux) Beaded Saddle Bag Panel, Museum Mounted

Details

Description

Framed Mid-20th C. Lakota (Sioux) Beaded Saddle Bag Panel, Museum Mounted, Attributed to the Lakota, Plains Region, circa 1940s–1960s.

A … Read more Framed Mid-20th C. Lakota (Sioux) Beaded Saddle Bag Panel, Museum Mounted, Attributed to the Lakota, Plains Region, circa 1940s–1960s.

A striking example of mid-20th century Plains beadwork, this Lakota (Sioux) beaded panel—originally part of a ceremonial saddlebag or horse regalia—has been professionally preserved in a custom museum-grade acrylic shadow box (28” H x 29” W x 4” D). Hand-stitched on tanned hide using the traditional lane stitch technique, the piece showcases the artistry and symbolism characteristic of Lakota women’s beadwork.

The central motif—interpreted as a tipi, lodge, or protective shield—is composed in bold hues of cobalt blue, white, black, and green, with vivid yellow and turquoise accents. These colors carry deep symbolic resonance in Plains cosmology: white for spirit, blue for sky and water, yellow for vitality, and green for the earth. Five beaded tabs hang from the lower edge, each with finely worked geometric patterns that may reference feathers, honor marks, or medicine bundles.

Created between the 1940s and 1960s during a period of cultural resilience and revitalization, this panel was likely made for ceremonial use—perhaps as part of parade regalia or powwow display. Its finely executed stitchwork and graphic symmetry reflect the enduring legacy of Plains bead artistry.

Though visually reminiscent of South African Ndebele bead panels—especially in the use of bold geometric forms and color contrasts—this piece is unmistakably Native American in origin. The beadwork is executed in horizontal rows using the lane stitch method typical of the Plains tribes, and the subject matter relates to tipi or lodge iconography rather than architectural motifs found in Ndebele tradition. Additionally, the materials, including tanned hide and sinew stitching, as well as the symbolic language of the design, align this work with Lakota cultural expression rather than African ceremonial adornment. See less