[NATIVE AMERICAN] c. 1920 Blackfoot Beaded Loop Necklace

A Blackfoot Beaded Loop Necklace. Northern Plains, circa 1920. Glass beads, leather, hide ties, and domed metal studs.

A graduated loop necklace composed of ten slender beaded strands suspended between two vertical leather strips. Predominantly white, each strand is interrupted at its lowest point by a short red passage. These aligned accents establish a second, descending rhythm within the successive curves of the necklace.

Rows of domed, brass-colored studs articulate the leather side supports, while long hide thongs extend beyond them as fringe. A hide tie completes the upper fastening. The construction balances the relative firmness of the side strips with the flexibility of the bead-covered strands, allowing the ornament to fall across the chest in a series of open arcs.

Glass beads entered Blackfoot adornment through trade by the late eighteenth century. Larger varieties were used for necklaces, bracelets, and suspended ornaments, while the subsequent availability of smaller beads expanded their application to clothing and accessories. 

The example offered here is distinguished by its limited palette and graduated proportions. Its red centers remain visually connected even as the white strands spread into increasingly deep curves, while the lateral fringe gives the otherwise measured arrangement a softer outline.