This is a wonderful men’s beaded hide shirt from the Osage dating to the late-19th century to early-20th century from the ex-Ben Thompson collection. The shirt is a large, heavy example comprised of Indian brain-tanned hide and sewn with beautifully beadwork including a chest bib on both sides, beaded shoulder strips and beaded arm strips. There are dozens of old drops of black horse tail hair which wrapped with an old trade strand and tied on, a few are missing. The beadwork shows all early glass trade seed beads in a classic geometric design with colors of cobalt, sky padre light blue, semi-transparent amber, blue, greasy green, semi-transparent green, chalk white, and red. There are also 10 tarnished silver concho / conchas tied onto the shirt. Interestingly both the front and back have the same adornments and beadwork. There are tab, stepped and Maltese cross motifs in the beautiful early beadwork. The bottom edge, inside of the arm and chest as well as the cuffs are fringe cut with some nice patina. This is a very nice example of an early Indian Reservation era men’s wearing shirt with truly striking beadwork. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Ben Thompson of Missouri, former head of the Central States Archaeological Society. The shirt has been preserved and adorned throught the years. Soft hide. Measures 72-inches wide from cuff to cuff and 50 inches from the back of the neck to the bottom of the shirt.