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1884.51.14

Padded saddle. [JN 2/9/97]

1884.51.14

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Collection type
Object
Description
Padded saddle. [JN 2/9/97]
Long description
The saddle is soft padded hide with no cantel or pommel. It is almost rectangular in shape but the sides that sit on the flank of the horse are slightly cut away into a curve. The edge of the saddle is bound with red, black, blue and white quillwork. The four corners of the saddle each have an embroidered quillwork motif of concentric circles in white red blue/green and black. Overlaying the saddle and stitched to it is an additional rectangular piece of hide, the edges cut to a zig-zag and crenellated pattern. This piece of hide would fall down the side of the horse as flaps to act as thigh protectors. The crupper is attached to the saddle with hide ties. It comprises a rectangular piece of hide decorated with quillwork in repeated geometric/ squared patterns in black, red, blue, cream and yellow/green. The long sides of the rectangle are flanked with hide, each bound with quillwork on the upper portion. At the point where the quillwork stops there is a thread which attaches all the strands of the hide fringe together. Yellow glass beads are threaded onto this connecting thread, so that each thread of the fringe is separated by a single 'connector' bead. Parts of the lower portion of the fringe show evidence of red pigment. At the tail end of the crupper is a semi-circular piece of hide with red, white and blue quillwork. This is attached to a hide loop which goes around the horse's tail. Apart from the padded end, the loop is decorated with quillwork in red, blue, yellow and black. This crupper loop has a decorative hide flap attached on either side, each painted with a central motif of a circle with a zig-zag pointed triangle border containing seven smaller circles. The paint colours are red and black. There is a further row of painted black circles on the lower edge of each flap, which is in turn trimmed with a hide fringe with some quill binding and elk teeth attached. The total length of the crupper (excluding ties) is 730 mm. Although it comprises a saddle plus stirrups and crupper they all seem pretty firmly attached and the object has therefore been numbered as one. This saddle also has a crupper attached. [JN 2/9/97]
Cultural groups
Native American
Date / Period
Date made: Possibly before 1880
Date collected
?Prior to 1880
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Porcupine Quill Animal, Material Tooth, Material Wood Plant, Material Glass, Material Pigment, Process Quillwork, Process Padded, Process Painted, Process Stitched, Process Carved, Process Perforated
Dimensions
Length: max 480 mm, Width 340 mm excluding flaps, Length: max 730 mm crupper, excluding ties
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.51.14 PR no.: 15/ 10513
Research and responses

Debbie Magee Sherer, a Blackfeet quillworker, has suggested that 'maybe the saddle is Blackfoot and the crupper attached to it is cree, added later. The circles and the “sun” circle on the crupper just doesn’t seem Blackfoot, but the saddle certainly does.  Also the fringe on the crupper is ochre stained so that looks real blackfoot, as does the quilled fringe. 'the ochre, elk teeth and quilled fringe were added to the crupper later, and then attached to the saddle. [Laura Peers, correspondence with Debbie Magee Sherer, 7 April 2016][Laura Peers, 7/10/2016]

Observations made by delegates during the ‘Object Lives’ research visit to the PRM on the 13-15th April 2015. The delegation consisted of Beverly Lemire, Anne Whitelaw, Sara Komarnisky, Judy Half, Cynthia Cooper, Sarah Nesbitt, Sarah Carter, Jonathan Lainey, Laurie Bertram, Susan Berry, Katie Pollock and Julie-Ann Mercer. This is a University of Alberta-based group; see: http://objectlives.com/

Saddle. The group commented that it is rare to find a saddle, crupper and stirrups as the crupper does not usually survive wear. There is little evidence of wear on this saddle and crupper. Most likely commissioned for collectors. Made from indigenous materials, nothing imported. In 1858 the first aniline synthetic dyes were created and used. In the 1850s sugar was packaged in blue paper and the paper was collected and boiled for its colour to be used as a dye. There was a long period where the combination of synthetic and natural dyes were used together.

The crupper and padded saddle are tied together incorrectly, they are the wrong way round. The crupper is of a later date. Two separate pieces that have been bought together to form one?

Red and black design. Great Lakes, Plains. Elk teeth on the end of the fringing. The circles are tipi designs not usually found on horse gear. Middle ground, influences from both North and South. Spanish colonists, shows a continuous history and scholarship.

Regarding circles – aboriginal women on the northern plains painted circles on the face during certain ceremonies. Items were personal to them. Horses were such personal items.

The fringing is part of the design and decoration. Quillwork techniques deployed show range of skill; loom woven, braided edging, quill wrapped. Beads separate strands from getting tangled. Several women’s work demonstrating ability. [FB 31/10/2016]

Search terms: Animal Gear, Saddle, Stirrup Animal Harness, Horse Accessory