Ribbon work

Ribbon work is an appliqué technique for clothing and dance regalia among Prairie and Great Lakes Native American tribes.

Dance shawl with ribbonwork made by Josephine Parker (Wichita), Oklahoma History Center

History

Silk ribbons, brought to North America by European traders, inspired a new, uniquely Native American art form. Mi'kmaq people created ribbon appliqué as early as 1611. In 1789 the regime of the French Revolution decreed that clothing should be plain, so silk ribbons fell out of fashion in France and were exported to North America.[1] Those tribes who traded furs with the French are most known for their ribbon work, such as the Kickapoo, Mesquakie, Miami, Odawa, Ojibwa, Osage, Otoe-Missouria, Potawatomi, and Quapaw, but the practice has spread to many other tribes. Initially, layers of ribbons were sewn on the edges of cloth, replacing painted lines on hide clothing and blankets.[2] By the close of the 18th century, Native seamstresses created much more intricate appliqué ribbon work designs.[2]

Description
Simple, rattlesnake design ribbon work on skirt by Ardina Moore (Quapaw-Osage)

The ribbons are layered on top of each other with pieces cut out to create optically active designs from both positive and negative space. The ribbons' edges are sewn with needles and cotton thread[3] – later, with nylon thread. Designs and colors may be significant to particular clans within the tribes. Specific patterns are passed from mother to daughters within families.[3] Design elements can include floral designs, diamonds, stepped diamonds, crescents, hearts, circles, and double-curves.

Today ribbon work can be seen on dance regalia at tribal ceremonies and powwows. Ribbon work is applied to both men's and women's clothing and is incorporated into leggings, skirts, blankets,[2] shawls, breechclouts, purses, shirts, vests, pillows, and other cloth items.

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See also
  • Dush-toh, Caddo women's ribbon headdress

References
  1. Dubin, Lois Sherr (1999). North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1999: 227. ISBN 0-8109-3689-5
  2. Berlo, Janet C. and Ruth B. Phillips. Native North American Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998: 97-8. ISBN 978-0-19-284218-3.
  3. Penney, David W. Native Arts of North America. Paris: Terrail, 1998: 62-3. ISBN 2-87939-190-3.
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