OSCEOLA

Osceola's Sash

Since Osceola’s death, many people have attempted to come forward with claims they had one of Osceola’s personal effects but only a few could be authenticated. This sash was acquired in 2018. It has since gone through extensive testing, to verify its historical significance, and an intense restoration process.

When the sash came to the museum, it was rolled up in a brown paper envelope, and has been stored in that manor for about 75 years. There was a printed 3 x 5 note card attached to the sash that read:
Scarf of Osceola, the Seminole Indian Chief of Florida, worn at the time of his capture by United States soldiers. Scarf was sent to Raleigh by Capt. Francis T. Bryan, U.S.A., during the Seminole War. Presented by J. Bryan Grimes, Jr.

Improper storage and light damage caused structural deterioration and weakness; the road to restoration was not going to be easy. The labor intensive affair, led by a specialized conservator, took 60 hours, over a three-week period. The sash was flattened, washed, and repaired. Human hair and feathers from an unknown species of bird were found woven within different sections of the sash and set aside for future research. The sash is now permanently mounted to the board it is displayed on and can only be displayed for a few weeks at a time due to its highly fragile nature.