Description
The buffalo robe displays a central beaded strip in hues of blue with red, yellow, and orange accents; the beadwork design includes the image of the white buffalo on a light blue background to represent day. On either side are geometric designs on a dark blue background to represent night. This central image is surrounded by a light blue border decorated with buffalo tracks in a clockwise direction to symbolize the Circle of Life.
Around this central design are large abalone shell discs with dangles of ermine wrapped in red trade cloth. Toward the lower mid section of the piece, two imitation eagle feathers hang from a blue and yellow quilled disc.
The front leg sections are also decorated with beaded panels - orange and yellow geometric designs on a light blue background.
The robe is commercially tanned. The back features the thick, wooly fur of the buffalo's winter coat.
The beadwork is done using Italian glass beads in the lane/lazy stitch technique.
The piece is signed by the artist.