Woman's Blanket

For more than 200 years, the Indians of the Woodlands have preferred to create much of their decorated clothing from manufactured materials obtained in trade from Europeans and Americans. The technique of silk ribbon appliqué was first developed by women of the Great Lakes region in the late 18th century, and production spread into the Eastern and Southern Plains. A distinctive feature of Osage women's blankets and those of the neighboring Oto is appliquéd or beaded human hands along the lower border. The design is thought to symbolize familial relations, spiritual power or simply friendship, prompting common use of the term friendship blanket. When worn and wrapped around the figure, the two outer bands were joined down the front and the hands and broad lower border encircled the wearer.