Kiowa/Comanche Single Hair or Ear Drop With Three Ornaments

Item: 1697

Origin: Kiowa/Comanche
Date: Last half 19th century
Media: Bone, steel, silver, brass
Dimensions: 13.5″ long

Description:  This single drop is characteristic with the bone upper piece and then three steel chains dropping to three ornaments.  There is a crescent shape, a trapezoid shape and a brass button.   The crescent and trapezoid are made of silver and have rockery engraving on one side. The button is a military button with an eagle on the front and writing circulating the back.   These were worn most commonly by the men, and could be attached to the ear or to the hair.  They typically were long and drapped onto their shoulder as seen in the photo shown herein by William Stinson Soule, photographer (1836-1908) of Natives belonging to a whole set of Southern Plains groups such as Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and the Arapahoe.

The photos shown here are lower resolution and do not allow for zooming in. Please reach out if you would like a set of high resolution photos.

Condition: Condition is original with no restoration.

Provenance: From a private collection in Albuquerque, NM

Price: 1895