Native American bone breastplate

Jim McDougall · 6th March 2013, 06:49 PM

While I am far from being a specialist on American Indian material culture, what I have learned is that these type accoutrements were more of a 'medicine' or talismanic sort of item. These are fashioned from what are termed 'hair pipes' in thier parlance, and in earlier times were actually made of dentalium (mollusk shells), most of these heavily traded from Northwest Indian tribes. Many of the beads and wampum shells used in other forms of accoutement came from trade through the Northeast, though some shells from this source were also used for 'hair pipes'.

By about the 1860s and especially during the Reservation Period, these hair pipes were being fashioned from bone, and actually while much was likely from buffalo, good volume began to come from livestock firms in Chicago and New York using cattle legbones. There was considerable demand for these and varying versions of these breastplates were made, not just by tribal peculiarity but personal adaption. Apparantly by WWI demand for these had waned (according to John C. Ewers, "Hair Pipes in Plains Indian Adornment", Smithsonian Bulletin 164, 1957, Anthropological Papers #50, pp.29-85).

It seems that these type breastplates became more of a traditional costume item used ceremonially later in the 20th century and are of course produced still commercially, while many are authentically created and used in Native American ceremony today.

While it does not seem that these would have been terribly effective in most combat instances, especially with the advent of firearms, it must be remembered that these were characteristically talismanic much in the way of the 'war shirts' which were often decorated with honors and charm type symbols.

Very nice example, and it is fantastic to see interest in the extremely important topic of Native American weaponry and material culture, which deserves far more attention here.

* Barry who can ever forget the great photo of you in the war bonnet!!~!

trenchwarfare · 6th March 2013, 09:18 PM

Very nice breast plate. And it does seem to have some age to it. As stated, these are being made now, and some are "patinated", to look old. They were magically expected to deflect enemy weapons. In the same way, that Japanese Senninbari (One Thousand Stitch Belts) were believed to stop bullets.

Jim McDougall · 6th March 2013, 09:42 PM

soliloquy cont.

Discovered more information which somewhat counters my earlier comments concerning the hair pipe breastplate being a medicine or talismanic item. Apparantly the design of these derives from a rod type armor fashioned of wood dowels sewn together used in the Northeast culture area. The use of bones, hollowed shells and rolled copper have quite early history for adornment. The first use of the term 'hair pipe' c. 1767 in the Ohio Valley referring to tubular beads traded from 'wampum' trade business in New Jersey. These beads were from West Indian conches and arrived in New York often as ships ballast. These were traded to tribes in the upper Missouri River regions.

According to the author, David E. Jones, "Native North American Armor, Shields and Fortifications" , the Comanches created the hair pipe breastplate around 1854, and by the early 1870s the fashion was seen widely with the Plains tribes. In this outstanding reference, the author notes that these breastplates were almost universally linked to male warriors along with high status and wealth, rather than the talismanic imbuement I earlier presumed.

An interesting perspective that is shown by the author, further defeating the idea of these intended as armor, besides being fragile and unlikely to provide any useful protection, is the suggestion that Plains warriors were entirely ready to die in battle. Such precautions would have been contrary to the ideals and philosophy of most of these warriors, particularly those of the many warrior societies. This is well shown in the Lakota adage used by Sitting Bull, "..today is a good day to die".
This seems quite contrary to the note I made earlier to the 'war shirts' which were indeed intended as talismanically imbued to protect the wearer from bullets. It would seem that tribally there were factions of the warrior groups quite separated philosophically with those seeking protection and those of the warrior societies who were quite willing to accept death in battle.

It would seem that notations of these breastplates being worn in battle would have more to do with the personal pride of the warrior going into battle knowing well it may be his last, than of protective armor. These of course would seem to in certain cases become traditional regalia for warriors of these warrior societies. A 1916 study in the Teton-Dakota division however revealed little evidence of armor as a symbol, fetish or weapon.

Battara · 6th March 2013, 11:23 PM

Very nice piece. I have seen the older and newer forms of this. I even knew someone in the Native American community here that made them out of cane.

For the most part, they were used by Plains tribes, especially the Sioux groups.

Side note: I have a choker made of this stuff hand made and gifted to me from a Native American full blood friend years ago.

6th March 2013, 06:49 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	While I am far from being a specialist on American Indian material culture, what I have learned is that these type accoutrements were more of a 'medicine' or talismanic sort of item. These are fashioned from what are termed 'hair pipes' in thier parlance, and in earlier times were actually made of dentalium (mollusk shells), most of these heavily traded from Northwest Indian tribes. Many of the beads and wampum shells used in other forms of accoutement came from trade through the Northeast, though some shells from this source were also used for 'hair pipes'. By about the 1860s and especially during the Reservation Period, these hair pipes were being fashioned from bone, and actually while much was likely from buffalo, good volume began to come from livestock firms in Chicago and New York using cattle legbones. There was considerable demand for these and varying versions of these breastplates were made, not just by tribal peculiarity but personal adaption. Apparantly by WWI demand for these had waned (according to John C. Ewers, "Hair Pipes in Plains Indian Adornment", Smithsonian Bulletin 164, 1957, Anthropological Papers #50, pp.29-85). It seems that these type breastplates became more of a traditional costume item used ceremonially later in the 20th century and are of course produced still commercially, while many are authentically created and used in Native American ceremony today. While it does not seem that these would have been terribly effective in most combat instances, especially with the advent of firearms, it must be remembered that these were characteristically talismanic much in the way of the 'war shirts' which were often decorated with honors and charm type symbols. Very nice example, and it is fantastic to see interest in the extremely important topic of Native American weaponry and material culture, which deserves far more attention here. * Barry who can ever forget the great photo of you in the war bonnet!!~!

6th March 2013, 09:18 PM	#2
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Very nice breast plate. And it does seem to have some age to it. As stated, these are being made now, and some are "patinated", to look old. They were magically expected to deflect enemy weapons. In the same way, that Japanese Senninbari (One Thousand Stitch Belts) were believed to stop bullets.

6th March 2013, 09:42 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	soliloquy cont. Discovered more information which somewhat counters my earlier comments concerning the hair pipe breastplate being a medicine or talismanic item. Apparantly the design of these derives from a rod type armor fashioned of wood dowels sewn together used in the Northeast culture area. The use of bones, hollowed shells and rolled copper have quite early history for adornment. The first use of the term 'hair pipe' c. 1767 in the Ohio Valley referring to tubular beads traded from 'wampum' trade business in New Jersey. These beads were from West Indian conches and arrived in New York often as ships ballast. These were traded to tribes in the upper Missouri River regions. According to the author, David E. Jones, "Native North American Armor, Shields and Fortifications" , the Comanches created the hair pipe breastplate around 1854, and by the early 1870s the fashion was seen widely with the Plains tribes. In this outstanding reference, the author notes that these breastplates were almost universally linked to male warriors along with high status and wealth, rather than the talismanic imbuement I earlier presumed. An interesting perspective that is shown by the author, further defeating the idea of these intended as armor, besides being fragile and unlikely to provide any useful protection, is the suggestion that Plains warriors were entirely ready to die in battle. Such precautions would have been contrary to the ideals and philosophy of most of these warriors, particularly those of the many warrior societies. This is well shown in the Lakota adage used by Sitting Bull, "..today is a good day to die". This seems quite contrary to the note I made earlier to the 'war shirts' which were indeed intended as talismanically imbued to protect the wearer from bullets. It would seem that tribally there were factions of the warrior groups quite separated philosophically with those seeking protection and those of the warrior societies who were quite willing to accept death in battle. It would seem that notations of these breastplates being worn in battle would have more to do with the personal pride of the warrior going into battle knowing well it may be his last, than of protective armor. These of course would seem to in certain cases become traditional regalia for warriors of these warrior societies. A 1916 study in the Teton-Dakota division however revealed little evidence of armor as a symbol, fetish or weapon.

6th March 2013, 11:23 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Very nice piece. I have seen the older and newer forms of this. I even knew someone in the Native American community here that made them out of cane. For the most part, they were used by Plains tribes, especially the Sioux groups. Side note: I have a choker made of this stuff hand made and gifted to me from a Native American full blood friend years ago.