Quill Bracelet

Quillwork has long been a significant part of the Lakota heritage, as well as being the forerunner of beadwork. Quillwork was developed to a high degree of artistic perfection long before European traders brought the now-used glass beads into America. The quill of a porcupine is a round, hollow tube which has a barbed point at one end. Quills were flattened and dyed with various vegetable dyes previous to the aniline dyes carried west by traders. This quill wrapped bracelet is hand-crafted by Lakota artist Karen Pourier of the Red Cloud Family, using died flattened porcupine quills. Bracelet is ¼" by 8 ¾" in diameter with a leather draw string. Each bracelet is unique with its own design.