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MATCHING BEADWORK SET – MOCCASINS, KNIFE SHEATH
AND BELT – FULL BEAD COVERAGE ON THESE VERY ATTRACTIVE
PIECES – ALL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION: A very
unusual fully beaded set – unusual in that the three
pieces were beaded in matching patterns and colors, and
even more unusual is that they have remained intact as a
set after all these years. According to the previous
owner, this set was originally collected in Montana and
the color and design combination bring to mind the work
of the Crow, Blackfoot, and Assiniboine tribes.
Consisting of four pieces – a pair of moccasins, a knife
sheath, and a belt – this set was very likely created as
a gift to commemorate a special occasion or event. The
beadwork appears to be early work, and was skillfully
executed in very small beads in the early muted colors.
The moccasins appear to be beaded with sinew and the
belt and knife sheath look to be beaded with thread.
All of the pieces survive
in excellent condition and they were subjected to very
little, gentle wear.
Each of the pieces is described as follows:
The pair of moccasins, measuring 9 ¾” long, with 5” high
tops, have with an additional 1 ¾” fold down cuff which
wrapped around the ankle. They have soft soles made of
substantial weight native tanned hide, and while showing
evidence of wear, the soles are fully intact with no
holes. The uppers are fully beaded and the beadwork has
survived in excellent condition, showing no damage and
the only bead loss is one single row on the heel of the
right moccasin. Otherwise the beadwork is fully
intact. There is a strip of faded red ribbon trim sewn
in the seam between the moccasin upper and the ankle
wrap – an attractive touch. There is some minimal seam
separation between the uppers and the soles – could be
repaired if you so desire, but that wouldn’t be
necessary and the separation is just evidence of normal
wear.
The belt, measuring 27 ½” long and 2 ¾” wide, is fully
beaded its entire length with the same pattern and
colors of beadwork, sewn directly to the belt body. The
belt is fully intact with no damage, and only some very
minor bead loss confined to a few spots along the
edges. The belt is very supple with no hardening of the
native tanned hide from which it is made.
The knife sheath, with the body measuring 10 ¼” long
with an additional 3” fringe, and 2 ½” across top, is
likewise beaded in the same pattern and colors of
beadwork. The sheath is fashioned from native tanned
buckskin and has a belt loop sewn to the reverse which
accommodates the belt. The beadwork is in excellent
condition with only some very minor wear to the beads in
isolated points along the front edge of the sheath.
As noted above, this is an unusual set to have remained
intact through the years and to have survived in this
condition suggests it was collected early and retained
in the same old collection where it was found. (0304)
$2750
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