Exceptional Nez Perce boy’s scout shirt, 18” high, 15” wide on bottom, 12” sleeve length. Heavily covered in yellow ochre. Exceptional beading, and fringe with red stroud at bottom. Ex Ralph Williams collection. Journal entry as follows from Ralph’s journal (interesting that he had called it a dress)
Girls Dress: GD1 – Child's yellow colored buckskin dress. Old. About 19” long. The fringes at the lower edge of the skirt have been removed. Two pockets in front with beaded designs in blue, green, white and red. Beaded designs above pockets and at lower edges of skirt front. Prints show where many designs have been removed. Floral designs on back of sleeves and back of dress, but some have also been removed here. From the Catherman Collection, Tahoe Ridge near Kooskia in 1947. This had been part of the old Henny Hysum collection. Said to have been taken from a dead papoose after the battle of Wounded Kneed South Dakota in 1890.
The shirt is in exceptional condition. Some of the beads had been “robbed,” to go on another garment. Prior to Ralph's acquisition, we had replaced exactly as would have been original.
PERIOD: Last quarter 20th century
ORIGIN: Nez Perce, Idaho
SIZE: 18" high, 15" wide on bottom, 12" sleeve length