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NORTHERN PLAINS – PLATEAU
BEADED KNIFE SHEATH WITH PROVENANCE – ASSINIBOINE,
BLACKFOOT, PLAINS CREE, CROW, FLATHEAD, METIS OR SALISH
- A LARGE, VERY ATTRACTIVE SHEATH IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
WITH STRIKING USE OF RARE METALLIC SEED BEADS:
This is a beautifully executed Northern Plains or
Plateau beaded knife sheath, the body measuring just
over 11 ½” long and 2 ½” wide at the top opening. There
is an additional 1” fringe sewn to the seam edge of the
sheath from the opening down to the tip. These floral
designs were popular among such tribes as the
Assiniboine, Blackfoot, Plains Cree, Crow, Flathead,
Metis, and Salish peoples on the far northern plains of
Canada and on the western plains and into the eastern
plateau area of eastern Washington, Oregon, Montana and
Idaho in the United States. The combination of the
central floral design and the upper and lower geometric
panels seem to suggest this sheath originated in one of
the above named tribes.
Of particular interest,
this sheath features a combination of glass and metallic
– both brass and iron – faceted seed beads. In the
norm, faceted metallic seed beads were generally used in
very small amounts to highlight a design element
executed in glass seed beads. The metallic beads were
apparently quite scarce at the time and were used
sparingly and judiciously. This sheath features a
floral pattern executed in the vast majority with the
brass and iron metallic beads, highlighted with small
floral and geometric elements executed in white lined
rose, dark blue, and white glass seed beads. In some
fifty years of studying Native American material
culture, this is the most extensive use of metallic
faceted seed beads I have seen on one artifact. It
truly is an unusual piece.
The sheath is constructed
of native brain tanned hide which is fully lined with
cotton cloth. The floral style beadwork was exquisitely
executed in small elements and stitches using the beads
described above. While the brass faceted beads have
tarnished through the years, when new made this sheath
must have been a real show stopper with the complex
designs. The central floral designs are set off by
sections of diagonal and horizontal stripes of white,
more of the metallic, and dark blue beads at the top and
bottom of the sheath. The top of the sheath is edge
beaded, again with the metallic beads. The beadwork was
applied in tight, well executed contoured lines which
are evidence that the woman who made this sheath was
very skilled and experienced. The beadwork is overall
tight and intact with a minimal loss of a few strands
along the folded edge.
The beads and hide show
aging and patina consistent with old beadwork and
evidence that this sheath was worn and used, and not
fabricated for the tourist trade. There is an old
leather thong loop on the reverse for hanging the sheath
from the original owner’s belt.
The sheath is accompanied
by an early Thomas Turner & Co. knife. Turner was
founded in Sheffield, England in 1802 and continued
production into the 1950’s. At some point in the first
half of the 19TH Century, the company
received a royal warrant in recognition of the superior
nature of their product. This warrant entitled the
company to add “Cutler to His (Her) Majesty” to their
maker’s cartouche on the blade.
The use of “His” vs. “Her”
Majesty in a particular cartouche provides information
which helps to date the blade. The maker’s cartouche on
the blade reads “ENCORE; THOMAS TURNER & Co.; CUTLER TO
HIS MAJESTY”. “Encore” was a product trade name Turner
registered soon after he founded his company. That the
town “Sheffield” is not included in the cartouche
indicates an early 19TH Century style, and
the lack of the country of origin being included in the
cartouche dates the blade as having been manufactured
prior to the Madrid Agreement of 1891 and the McKinley
Tariff Act in 1891, both which required items to be
marked with the name of the country in which they were
made. The use of “Encore” and the lack of the country
of origin date this blade as having been made sometime
between 1810 and 1891. The use of “HIS” in the royal
warrant claim indicates a male monarch sat the throne
when this blade was produced. As Queen Victoria ruled
from 1837 to 1901, the use of “HIS” would indicate this
blade was made prior to her reign, sometime between 1810
and 1837.
Measuring 10 ¼” long in
overall length, with a 6”, the single edged blade is
legibly marked with very little of the maker’s mark
affected by age and pitting. The blade shows evidence
of use, having been sharpened and the profile of the
blade slightly reduced – evidence of its long use. The
blade is overall smooth with some discoloration and
pitting. The wood handle scales are full form and
intact, in excellent condition with no checks or splits,
and still held firmly in place with the original iron
pins.
Despite the obvious signs
of age and use, this sheath has survived in excellent
condition and displays very well. The heavy use of the
metallic faceted beads and the substantial size, this
Beaded Knife Sheath will be a dramatic addition to your
collection, and would a perfect piece to display on a
Model 1876-79 Prairie Belt, one of the 1880’s Mills
Cartridge Belts, or on a civilian buffalo hunter’s
cartridge belt.
SOLD
PROVENANCE:
Hayter Reed (1849-1936)
This knife sheath was obtained
from the collection of well known 19TH Century Canadian
politician and collector, Hayter Reed (1849-1936).
Reed, a native born Canadian, was educated in Canada and
after graduating from the School of Military Instruction
in Kingston, he joined the 14TH Battalion of Volunteer
Militia Rifles. He rose in the ranks to brigade major
and was transferred west to garrison duties at Ft.
Garry, the location of present day Winnipeg. Reed
studied the law and upon leaving military service, he
served in a number of government positions in the
Department of the Interior, eventually being appointed
as an Indian Agent in 1881, and Indian Commissioner in
1888. He headquartered in Regina, then identified as
being in the Assiniboia District, later as the capital
of Saskatchewan. Reed’s duties as Indian Agent and
Commissioner no doubt fostered his interest in the
material culture of the Native Peoples of the area and
led to his accumulation of artifacts into a collection
of some note. After his passing, not only were
artifacts sold to private collectors, but a considerable
number of pieces were donated to museums in Canada,
including the famous McCord Museum.
Saskatchewan was the home of a
number of reserves set aside for the First Peoples of
Canada, including such tribes as the Assiniboine – also
known as the Stone or Stoney Sioux, the Plains Cree, and
Metis, as well as other tribes which migrated back and
forth between the US and Canada with little regard of
the international border. These would include the
Blackfoot, Crow, Flathead and Salish. Reed would have
had the opportunity to collect pieces of material
culture from any and all of these tribes and he was
certainly in a position to build a substantial
collection.
I purchased this sheath from a
Canadian collector who in turn purchased it in Canada
from a dealer who was selling pieces of Hayter Reed’s
personal collection.
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