Art & Craft

Brain tanning is an ancient, natural method of hide processing once used worldwide and preserved most notably by Native American cultures. This article explains the principles of brain tanning, outlines the traditional Plains Indian process step by step, and compares the properties of brain-tanned leather with industrially produced leather. It also addresses common myths and highlights the variability and craftsmanship inherent in this traditional technology.

The quill-wrapped horsehair (QWHH) technique is a rare and highly demanding form of North American Indigenous quillwork, likely originating among the Crow and Plateau tribes in the early 19th century. Using porcupine quills wrapped around single or double bundles of horsehair, it creates distinctive three-dimensional embroidery for garments, buffalo robe strips, moccasins, and other items. Surviving examples are extremely scarce, found mainly in museum and private collections, and valued for their technical complexity, aesthetic uniqueness, and cultural significance.

Quillwork—the art of decorating with the quills of the North American porcupine—is among the oldest and most significant artistic techniques of the Indigenous peoples of North America. It was far more than mere decoration; the patterns carried profound spiritual symbolism, reflecting cosmology and the cosmic order, while conveying blessings, protection, and vital life force to their wearers.