BREASTPLATES

Hair Pipe Breastplates of the Plains Indian (Native American Indian)

A bone breastplate was a popular chest ornament / chest armor.  The long bones called hair-pipes, were made with bones from buffalo, birds, or manufactured by the Whites - then assembled by the Indians.  The top of the plate was tied around the neck with a thong, and other thongs at the bottom secured it around the waist.  Since the hair-pipe bones were difficult and expensive to obtain, the number of bones in the plate often indicated the wealth of a warrior.  Such breastplates were worn on occasion in battle, but could be penetrated easily by an arrow or a bullet, so they were mainly a decorative or medicine item.  Plush breastplates of otter skin were also covered with mirrors, gorgeously decorated with quills, and used for ceremonial dances

custom made breastplates

Breastplates

Chokers

Arm Bands, etc

 

 

$475 to $679

Chokers: $99 - $125

 

hair pipe arm bands

 

 
We utilise real bone hair pipe or buffalo horn hair pipes , glass and brass beads, old antique trade bead, abalone, buffalo fur, feathers, medicine bundles, deer hide ties and fringe

hair pipe choker

Breastplate with Beaded Medicine Neck Bag Breastplate - length from top beads to bottom beads (not including braided leather neck strap) 24 inches. Leather, abalone, various types of beads, i.e. pony beads, crow beads and trade beads, brass beads, elk teeth, etc. 48 hair pipes each side, plus 49 center hair pipes.
This example was $645
Thunderbird Medallion necklace (beaded on deer skin - size 11 beads and hair pipes with old trade beads on sinew

Breastplate - length from top beads to bottom beads (not including braided leather neck strap) 13 inches. Leather, abalone, various types of beads, i.e. white hearts, crow beads and brass beads, etc. 25 hair pipes each side, plus 26 center hair pipes.

This exampled was $450
Northern Plains Women's breastplate
bone hair pipe choker with many old trade beads

 

NATIVE ARTS Trading
"Finella Lodge"
Drumtochty,
by Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire AB30 1TR
Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1561 320914
E-mail: cochise@nativeartstrading.com

MEMBERS OF IACA (Indian Arts & Crafts Association)