The lot features a truly historic and important set of circa 1870 Southern Cheyenne Pictorial Thunderbird Beaded Buffalo hide and parfleche hard sole moccasins from the ex-collection of Forrest Fenn and Bruce VanLandingham Sundog museum & gallery with the original $6,000 tag still present (which notes Fenn as previous owner). The historic Indian Wars set is comprised of Indian tanned Great American Bison / Buffalo hide with Bison / Buffalo parfleche rawhide hard sole bottoms being completely sinew sewn covered on the tops with amazing and rare Pictorial geometric beadwork done in all period 1800’s glass trade seed beads, all being sinew sewn as well. The set shows amazing Pictorial Effigy Thunderbird imagery on the vamps, three of these Thunderbird images along the top and two on the sides of the ankle. Pictorial beadwork of this era are exceedingly rare with Thunderbird examples being immensely collectible. The beads show a chalk white background with red white heart, cobalt a greasy yellow. The small Buffalo Indian hide bifurcated split tongue and Indian hide ties are still present. Bottoms have original museum collection marks painted and written on, “C-253” and “732”. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Forrest Burke Fenn (1930-2020), Fenn later being acquired from the collection of Bruce VanLandingham Sundog gallery and museum Bozeman, Montana with the original tag which reads, “Cheyenne Moccasins c.1870 $6,000” and on the back collection number, “BV0503 / EX-F. FENN)”. Bruce VanLandingham was a pillar in the American Indian collecting community and a respected expert. Along with being an avid collector, Bruce was also the sole owner of Sundog Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman, which was both part museum and gallery, this piece is directly from the collection. Pictorial beadwork from the Indian Wars era is exceedingly rare and desirable especially with representations of the Thunderbird such as this example, see the following: Cheyenne River Sioux Pictorial Tobacco Bag with Thunderbird sold by Cowan’s in 2019 for $44,800, the Cheyenne Pictorial Moccasins with Thunderbirds sold by Cowan’s in 2020 for $9,600, the Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne) beaded set sold by Bonhams in 2023 for $8,960, the Cheyenne 19th-Century set sold by Cowans in 2019 with dragonflies for $7,680, as well as other pieces such as the Plains Pictorial Beaded Scout Jacket 1880 with Thunderbirds which sold in 2017 at Dan Morphy for $22,500, and the Plains Pictorial Beaded Suitcase which sold in 2010 by Skinners Bonhams for $128,625. The set is very well preserved in museum-grade condition showing little to no bead loss, mostly supple hides with some stiffness, hard soles with deep-foot worn dark pattern, consistent with this sets early age. One of the best sets of Pictorial Beaded moccasins, and possibly the best set previously owned by noted collector Forrest Fenn. Each moccasin measures 10 5/8-inches long along the sole by 4-inches wide by 3.75-inches high.