Saddle skirt

Saddle skirt

About 1880
Culture
Crow
Locale
Montana
Country
United States
Object
saddle, skirt
Medium
Rawhide and paint
Accession Number
2016.324A-B
Credit Line
Gift of James and Deborah Frank

Crow/ Apsáalooke artist, Saddle skirt, late 1800s. Rawhide and paint; 17" diameter rondels. Denver Art Museum: Gift of James and Deborah Frank, 2016.324A-B

Department
Native Arts
Collection
Indigenous Arts of North America

Abstract painting was highly developed among indigenous cultures around the world and dates back many millennia. Artists throughout Native America likewise were accomplished abstractionists as evidenced by the patterning on this saddle skirt. This is an extremely rare type of decorative horse gear with only six other examples known to be in existence today. 

Known Provenance
Fischer Collection, before 1950; purchase by Gerland E. Williams, before 1950; purchased by Bullock Beard, 1950-1987; purchased by Dave Cook Fine Art, 1987-1996; collection of Jim Frank, New York, NY, 1996 - 2016; gifted Denver Art Museum via John Molloy Gallery, 2016