Red River Metis. Pad Saddle, early 19th century. Hide, beads, Stroud cloth, quills, cotton fringe, silk ribbon, deer hair, glass beads, brass, 26 x 18 1/2 in. (66 x 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.14. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.50.67.14_view1.jpg)
Red River Metis. Pad Saddle, early 19th century. Hide, beads, Stroud cloth, quills, cotton fringe, silk ribbon, deer hair, glass beads, brass, 26 x 18 1/2 in. (66 x 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.14. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.50.67.14_view2.jpg)
Red River Metis. Pad Saddle, early 19th century. Hide, beads, Stroud cloth, quills, cotton fringe, silk ribbon, deer hair, glass beads, brass, 26 x 18 1/2 in. (66 x 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.14. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 50.67.14_acetate_bw.jpg)
Pad Saddle
Arts of the Americas
CULTURE
Red River Metis
MEDIUM
Hide, beads, Stroud cloth, quills, cotton fringe, silk ribbon, deer hair, glass beads, brass
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
- Possible place made: Canada
- Possible place made: United States
DATES
early 19th century
DIMENSIONS
26 x 18 1/2 in. (66 x 47 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
50.67.14
CREDIT LINE
Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1848, provenance not yet documented; by 1848, acquired by Nathan Sturges Jarvis; 1848, gift of Nathan Sturges Jarvis to the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY; 1937, loaned by the New-York Historical Society to the Brooklyn Museum; 1950, purchased from the New-York Historical Society by the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Saddle constructed as a heavy pad, enclosed within a durable covering of smoked skins. The skins were cut in an hourglass shape and then sewn together with sinew. The pad itself is stuffed with deer of buffalo hair or, possibly grass as a cushion.
A large rectangular piece of Stroud cloth, now brown, has been attached across the center of the saddle. It is finished with two lobe-like shapes and edged with white beads. The seams of the pad are edged with multi-colored quillwork in yellow, light blue, lavender, orange, brown, black and white. Black cotton fringe has been attached to the two narrow ends of the saddle. On each of the longer sides are four elongated cloth tabs, red at the center, tan at the edges and beaded with small geometric forms and lines in white, blue and orange. The tabs are trimmed at the bottom with deer hair tufts and interspersed with a fringe of large black, blue and amber glass beads. A cloth rosette decorates each of the four corners of the pad, containing four interconnected lobes that are fashioned in red, blue and black silk and Stroud cloth and ornamented with beads. Below each rosette are appliquéd lozenge forms or pointed ovals, containing two small triangles placed back to back, also edged with white beads.
The remnants of what might be stirrup leathers are concealed under the cloth. They are covered by a lighter, softer skin (deer?). The strap remnants seem to be recycled from some other object - - one side has a green, black and red painted design. Some native repair is evident. See Jarvis supplemental file Arts of Americas office.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Red River Metis. Pad Saddle, early 19th century. Hide, beads, Stroud cloth, quills, cotton fringe, silk ribbon, deer hair, glass beads, brass, 26 x 18 1/2 in. (66 x 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.14. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.50.67.14_view1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, CUR.50.67.14_view1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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