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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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