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Cheyenne Medicine Man Buffalo Headdress
The buffalo or “Tatanka”, as Native Americans know it by, was
and is a source of great strength and spirituality. Only
distinguished male warriors wore this sacred kind of regalia.
The buffalo’s spirit was praised before every hunt with a tribal
ritual dance.
Native people of the Plains respected and honored the buffalo,
sustainer of life, through songs, dances and ceremonies. Buffalo
communicated with the people through dreams or visions and were
called upon during hunger, war, illness and other times of need.
Buffalo horned bonnets manifested the animal's spiritual
significance. Buffalo horn bonnets also provided warriors
protection in battle and ensured long, healthy lives.
This is an incredible reproduction of a split buffalo horned
headdress with single trailer. All seed beads, trade beads, hawk
bells and brass beads which adorn this headdress are from the
1800’s ! The headband is a great example of Larry’s quality
quill stitching. Quill stitching was prominent on all Native
American regalia pre 1850 before trade beads became available .
Larry derived the colors of the quills in traditional, authentic
fashion. Larry boiled the quills in different combinations of
roots, bark, berries and leaves in order to define the original
colors.
The cap of the headdress is buffalo fur with deerskin lining and
sinew stitched. The tips of the buffalo horns are adorned with
dew claws, horse hair, brass beads, trade beads and split crane
feathers. On both sides of the buffalo fur cap hangs a total of
14 ermine hides with tail wrapped with dyed red leather and
sinew. Above the quill stitched headband are several elk teeth
which are sewn directly onto the buffalo fur cap. Elk teeth are
the only ivory in North America and were used on many Native
American garments. They were used as a sign of prestige and
status.
The trailer is 5’6” long which has almost 30 turkey wing- tip
feathers. These feathers are almost identical to golden eagle
wing-tip feathers which adorned the original. A small fan
arrangement of feathers are attached at the bottom of the
trailer. Small wrapped feathers are attached on both sides of
the entire length of the trailer. The trailer itself is leather
which was dyed a light green, a color which was used often on
Plains garments. The edge of the entire trailer is beautifully
beaded throughout and also adorns leather thongs with brass
beads and hawk bells hanging down the sides.
Large trade beads are also found hanging at the bottom of the
trailer. All feathers are wrapped with red dyed leather and
sinew. This was one of Larry’s favorite works. An absolutely
astounding and one-of-a-kind example of the revered buffalo
horned headdress. |
