Antelope-horn headdresses

[jimschley]

Hello to one and all,

I'm a new participant in the LBHA message boards, and I'm seeking some assistance with research into the use of antelope horns on the caps of eagle-feathered headdresses, which seems to have been quite rare. That rarity is surprising to me, since antelope were surely as abundant as buffalo in the northern plains region. Is anyone aware of examples of antelope-horn headdresses or warbonnets, and if so, where do these appear (in publications or museum collections), and are they attributed to a specific tribal or cultural group?

Thanks for any assistance you can offer, and thanks to for creating a wonderfully inviting and thought-provoking atomosphere on this website.

[grahamew]

A drawing by the Cheyenne, Yellow Nose - although the SIRIS catalogue information is obvioulsy wrong:

tinyurl.com/2gkag8

[Modified to reduce size. Go to sirismm.si.edu/naa/166032/08709100.jpg for the full-sized image. -- DM]

[grahamew]

Here's another Cheyenne from the SIRIS collection. Anonymous drawing from around 1880:



tinyurl.com/2hzbvp

[Modified to reduce size. Go to sirismm.si.edu/naa/4452a/08669600.jpg for the full-sized image. -- DM]

[grahamew]

Another anonymous Cheyenne drawing from SIRIS. Same page.



[Modified to reduce size. Go to sirismm.si.edu/naa/4452a/08669900.jpg for the full-sized image. -- DM]

[grahamew]

Noapeh, on the left, is an Assiniboin wearing a split antelope horn headdress.

[jimschley]

Thank you, Grahamew. Beautiful paintings. What an amazing medium this forum is -- the way you can post these images in response to my query.

Jim Schley

[grahamew]

Apache headdress utilising antelope horns:

[Diane Merkel]

All --

Henri asked me to post these photos for him. He made the one with eagle feathers himself!

Diane

[Diane Merkel]

From another board member:

The headdress pictured is a modern reproduction made by a friend of mine this year. The headdress is made of two antelope horns, brain-tanned sinew sewn crown, ermine skins, and a quilled brow band with some imitation eagle feathers. The headdress is indicative of the type used by warriors in the Northern Cheyenne Crazy Dog society, not to be confused with the "Dog Man" society typical among the Southern Cheyenne.

[apsalooka]

Very nice bonnet, well done.
Henri

[HinTamaheca]

{It should be noted that Grass Creek, referenced on the collection card, is located on Pine Ridge Reservation northwest of Porcupine community.}

Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum
St. Francis Mission
Rosebud Reservation, SD
Name of Object (English): Feathered hair ornament
Name of Object (Lakota): tatokala he wapaha
BMLM Number: 0122
Buechel's Dictionary Description: Not provided
Contemporary Description: Consisting of antelope horns, at top, connected to a rawhide base joined to a rossette of arranged feathers. Buckskin, heavy cotton twine and thread serve to hold this item together. The rawhide is from domestic cow. The feathers are eagle, red-tailed hawk, sage grouse, and orange and yellow fluffs. Some of the feathers have been split, and some cut. The fluffs are glued at the tips of the eagle feathers. The horns have been drilled at the tips and prongs; one horn painted blue the other yellow, (just traces). A few of the smaller eagle have been dyed yellow. A rawhide rossette can be seen at the center of the feathers, attached with twine. Some of the feathers are broken and soiled.

*******

According to George Bird Grinnell in The Cheyenne Indians: Their History and Ways of Life, Volumes I and II, 1923, he states a number of times that pronghorn antelope horns were part of the headdresses worn by some of the members of the Cheyenne Crazy Dog Warrior Society. (see Vol. I: pages 190, 217, 221, 224, 278; Vol. II: page 78)