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ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY NORTHERN PLAINS
BEADED SHEATH WITH TRADE KNIFE – A LARGE, VERY
ATTRACTIVE SHEATH IN VERY GOOD CONDITION:
This is a beautifully
executed original 19TH Century Northern
Plains beaded knife sheath, the body measuring just over
10 ¼” long and 2 ½” wide at the top opening. The
beadwork incorporates geometric designs popular among
such tribes as the Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe
peoples on the western plains.
The sheath is constructed with a native brain tanned
hide front panel, sewn to the sheath body which is
formed of light weight rawhide. The geometric style
beadwork was skillfully executed with sinew in small
seed beads utilizing the very desirable early 19TH
Century colors in various shades. The attractive
designs were worked in two sections, typical of these
scabbards. The beadwork was applied in tight, well
executed lanes, attesting to the skill of the woman who
made this sheath.
The beadwork is tight with
some minor bead loss on the top panel where that part of
the sheath was overlaid with the belt to which it was
attached. The bead loss does not dramatically affect
the appearance of the sheath, and only serves as
evidence that it was subjected to normal use. There is
a bead wrapped drop at the tip of the sheath.
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 a light buckskin thong on the reverse for hanging the
sheath from the original owner’s belt.
The sheath is accompanied by an early trade knife.
Measuring an impressive 12 ¾” in overall length, the
knife has an unmarked 7 ¾” single edged blade. The
blade shows evidence of use and having been sharpened,
but not to the point that altered or reduced the profile
of the blade. The blade is overall smooth with a few
small areas of minimal discoloration and pitting. The
tang has the characteristic known on these early knives
– that of having a taper in the thickness of the steel,
tapering from the thickest at the blade to the thinnest
at the top of the grip.
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 brass pins. This is the style and vintage
of the knives which were traded out on the frontier and
blades of this size would have been popular with the
traders and Indians, certainly appropriate for being
carried in this sheath.
In spite of the obvious signs of age and use, this
sheath has survived in very good condition and displays
very well. With such a striking design and substantial
size, this Beaded Sheath and Knife 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. (0410)
$1750
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