Red River Metis. <em>Pair of Leggings</em>, early 19th century. Buckskin, porcupine quills, seed beads, thread, 35 in. (88.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.9a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.50.67.9a-b_view1.jpg)

Pair of Leggings

Artist:Red River MetisYanktonai, Nakota, Sioux

Medium: Buckskin, porcupine quills, seed beads, thread

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:early 19th century

Dimensions: 35 in. (88.9 cm)

Collections:

Accession Number: 50.67.9a-b

Image: CUR.50.67.9a-b_view1.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Leggings constructed with a long "tab" at each hip, near the top and above each outer seam. Below these tabs the outer seams on the rest of both leggings are decorated with one vertical strip of porcupine quillwork on each, outlined with beads in red, white-centered red, and black. The small seed bead and the cornalined'allepo (the white-centered) beads are not usually found on garments this early. Long fringes ornament the outer seams and the base of each strand is wrapped with red porcupine quills. The top and bottom edges of the leggings have short fringes. Shorter tabs are sewn on the bottom. This is generally referred to as bottom tabbed leggings, a style that permitted the tabs to stream along after the wearer when walking, a fashion that existed for only a brief time.

Brooklyn Museum