From card: "Gift of Edward Namegus, 1932, who had inherited it from his grandfather. Oblong black velvet and sateen on opposite side of a semi-stiff inside, beaded around edge in red and green. Most of front covered with large solid, hour-glass shaped design in white and a few blue beads, and square arch at top in same colors. Small floral spray in pink beads at each side. Supposed to be Thunder-bird design, gotten from a dream, very sacred, kept hidden, worn around neck (by a ribbon) mainly in bear hunting."

Red felt bag with a long fringe. The bag is round at bottom, with straight sides and top, and a long handle. Handle and felt embellishments on bag are in black felt. On the front are four 6-petal flowers made from moose hair tufting, dyed red, purple and yellow and interspersed with green leaves of the same material. A strand of twisted grey hair makes a circle under the flowers and leaves. On the bag’s edges is sewn a thick fringe of deer skin. The interior of the bag is lined with cotton in a small floral pattern. The closure sits at the centre of the bag’s opening, and is a strip of black felt with a metal snap.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

Gift of the Amon G. Carter Foundation.

Gift of the Amon G. Carter Foundation.

Gift of the Amon G. Carter Foundation.

By the mid-eighteenth century horses had spread throughout the Plains region. As Plains Indian peoples became expert horsemen, they began to create a variety of trappings for their horses. Derived from Spanish pack saddles, pad saddles were commonly made by peoples of the northern and northeastern Plains such as the Plains Cree. Pad saddles are usually rectangular or oval tanned leather tubes stuffed with grass or moose hair. A band of tanned leather sewn across the middle provides an attachment for the stirrups. Floral beaded decoration covers the corners, from which hang beaded panels that are often further embellished with yarn tassels.