The lot features a fine painted buffalo bison hide wearing robe with quillwork strip collected from the Cheyenne Running Elk Family at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation by noted western collector Jim Aplan of Piedmont, South Dakota in the 1970's. The robe exhibits a nice Indian tanned full, large buffalo / bison hide with fur and has been elaborately polychrome painted in classic Plains and Northern Plains patterns, typical of the Mandan Hidatsa and Cheyenne showing a linear dot and line pattern with circular sun-wheel pattern with colors of yellow, black, green, red, blue and white in mineral pigment paints such as yellow ocher / ochre. Down the center shows an old, beautifully done porcupine quill quillwork blanket strip done on Indian tanned hide sinew sewn and attached to the hide. The quillwork blanket strip shows Indian tanned hide fringes with wound glass old red white trade beads as well as colors of yellow, purple, red, green, and white / cream natural. These large tanned, painted buffalo bison hides were often worn as robes in the winter months and used in the tipi in the summer months; worn with the fur on the inside and the beautiful painted design on the outside. Often the robe started fairly simple and was added to as important events happened in the Native families life or history. Many of these painted buffalo hides are mistaken as being “rugs” but were actually wearing blankets. Provenance: Collected from the Cheyenne Running Elk Family at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation by Jim Aplan of Piedmont, South Dakota in the 1970's (a noted Western and Native American artifact dealer and collector). The paint is well kept and likely preserved or kept up over the years. The hide shows some holes from tanning and use, but the hide is very well kept and supple with much of the hair on the back. The piece did not see much use as it is well kept. Truly a stunning example. Measures overall 102-inches (8 ½ feet) by 91-inches (7 ½ feet).