Blanket strip

The cross within a circle, the principal design element on this blanket strip, is one of the most visually powerful motifs in Plains art; it symbolizes the circle of the world, the four directions, and the sacred center—concepts fundamental to Plains worldviews. The massive strip also conveys wealth and prestige. The beading is a blend of shorter lane-stitch rows and the longer spot-stitch method, resulting in thousands of contrasting blue and white antique beads affixed to the leather. As glass beads became more plentiful through trade in the early decades of the nineteenth century, artists increasingly used them to present community affiliations, connections to place, or status.

Culture: Central Plains, probably Lakota/Teton Sioux, Native American

Medium: Tanned leather and glass beads