Early Yankton (Sioux) Woman's Yoke, 1860 / Ex Field Museum, IL
A yoke comprised of two principal pieces native-tanned leather which have been decorated with sinew-sewn seed beads. The yoke consists of two matched panels in which a cranberry/yellow/black box-in-a-box motif alternates with a “H” motif which matching colors. The design sits on a blue field, and is framed with a three-lane border consisting of two cranberry lanes flank a central lane which alternating black and pink bars. On the inside of the yoke, there is an old penned accession number, “115540”.
59” wide and 14” tall, as displayed; accompanied by a custom stand
Ex Edward Ayer, IL; gifted to the Field Museum, Chicago, IL,(#115540, 1912-1936)
Accompanying the dress is an essay by Jill Ahlberg Yohe, PhD; Consulting curator and co-curator of “Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists” (2019).
#50671