[NATIVE AMERICAN] Southern Plains Women’s Boot Moccasins w/ Beadwork, Metal Ornaments & Fringe

A Pair of Southern Plains Beaded and Metal-Ornamented Hide Women’s Boot Moccasins.

A distinctive pair of women’s boot moccasins, fashioned from golden-yellow hide with broad, pale turned-down cuffs terminating in cut fringe. Shaped hide flanges extend along the outer sides, carrying paired rows of small, darkened metal ornaments with radiating, fluted surfaces. Their repeated circular forms create a strong vertical accent against the comparatively plain legging uppers.

Multicolored beadwork is concentrated on the insteps, where symmetrical devices combine a central oval with branching angular and curving elements in dark blue, red, green, yellow, and white. The sparing placement of these motifs preserves generous areas of exposed hide, allowing the contrasting textures of beadwork, metal, and fringe to define the composition. Separately attached hide soles bear handwritten inscriptions.

The combination of extended uppers and attached moccasin feet belongs to the legging-moccasin traditions of the Southern Plains. The use of metal ornaments alongside glass beads and colored hide also has documented regional precedent. 

The ensemble is especially appealing for its contrasting treatments of the garment’s surfaces: softly fringed cuffs above, rhythmic metal ornament at the sides, and compact passages of colorful beadwork over the feet. Together, these elements give an otherwise restrained form considerable sculptural presence.