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NATIVE AMERICAN MADE BEADED MITTENS – BEAUTIFUL
SET TO DISPLAY WITH AN INDIAN WAR ERA GROUPING:
This is a very attractive pair of early, Native American
made buckskin mittens, featuring classic floral beadwork
patterns on the backs of the hands and the cuffs.
Apparently to satisfy the market at the time, the
mittens and gauntlets produced by the Native Americans
during this period were overwhelmingly beaded with
floral beadwork, even by those tribes that
characteristically used geometric patterns in their bead
work. Perhaps the Victorian styles and tastes drove the
market, but for whatever reason, most of these mittens
and gauntlets were decorated as this pair is, with
bright floral patterns.
This pair is a full sized pair, large enough to fit a
large grown male’s hands, and they show enough use to
lend character and flavor to your display or collection,
but have been well cared for through the years. All of
the seams are intact, and all of the leather is solid
with no holes or wear points in danger of tearing. The
buckskin, featuring a mellow, smoky even color, is soft
and pliable, and has a substantial weight - certainly
made for use and not the lightweight tourist grade
leather you often see. The mittens are overall clean
with the exception of some discoloration across the
palms and on the inside surface of the thumb, again
evidence of real use, likely on horse back or in driving
a team of horses from the seat of a wagon or sleigh,
caused by handling the reins.
The bead work is complete and intact overall, with no
missing beads, and no tears or loose strands. Along the
edges of the cuffs and across the knuckles, there are
strips of soft beaver fur stitched over the buckskin.
These strips of fur are complete; however the stitching
attaching them to the buckskin has given out in a few
spots. The strips are not loose, but this is mentioned
only for the purposes of providing a complete
description.
The interior of the mittens are fully lined with a light
blue flannel which is fully intact with no wear spots,
tears, or open seams.
This is a beautiful pair of beaded mittens,
characteristic of those used on the Northern Plains by
19th Century army officers and 19th
and 20th Century frontiersmen, cowboys and
Wild West show performers, and perfect to add to your
Western display. SOLD
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