This is an outstanding Crow Native American Indian parfleche polychrome painted vest with beadwork, circa 1890. The piece is crafted from parfleche envelope remnants decorated with polychrome mineral pigment paints and beautiful geometric and floral glass trade seed beadwork. The beads are all original 19th Century examples in colors of faceted semi-transparent green, semi-transparent greasy yellow, sky padre light blue, red, semi-transparent red, cobalt, greasy yellow, and salmon/orange. The vest is sewn with sinew and trade thread and shows two rawhide pockets on the front and a red ochre/ocher painted border. Inside the vest is a polychrome pigment painted remnant design and symbols of tipis (teepee), horseback warriors, and more. The front shows the vine-like floral, arrowhead-like design, which flows over the shoulders on the back down to two round medallions with a five-point star and circle at the center. This is truly a fantastic early piece in well-preserved, slightly stiff condition. Provenance: From a large American Indian and Cowboy collection outside of Billings, Montana; it was purchased from an old South Dakota collection. When closed and flat, the vest measures 13.5" by 13.5".

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