DRESS

ca. 1830

Allen Collection

X1892.01.25

Constructed from two big horn sheep hides, this dress was most likely made about 1830 or even earlier. Once plentiful on Montana's plains, big horn sheep produced hides larger than those of deer, thus offering a popular option for dressmaking. The seamstress who made this garment incorporated the hides' natural features into the design, using the tail end as a decorative yoke across the back and leg skins as part of the fringe on the armholes. Additionally, she ornamented the upper portion of the dress, front and back, with 192 elk teeth (small, ivory, upper canines that are vestigial, prehistoric tusks). Because each elk has only two such "teeth," their profusion on this dress paid homage to the hunters' skills and served as a proud boast for the wearer. Highly prized by Plains peoples, elk teeth were often passed down as heirlooms, which possibly explains why the teeth were removed from the back of this dress at some point in its history.

Plains