This is a gorgeous parfleche beaded knife sheath from the Gros Ventre of the Northern Plains in Montana dating to the 19th-century. The belt sheath is comprised of Northern Plains polychrome painted parfleche remnants that are sinew sewn and adorned with 1800's period glass trade seed beads across the top and border showing a maltese cross at the center. The beadwork shows colors of cobalt, red white heart, sky padre light blue, chalk white, medium green and Cheyenne pink. The sheath shows the original geometric multiple color painting from the parfleche. The body has a triangle cutout through the sheath.
Provenance: From a large Native American private collection in Paris, France. Very similar to the Gros Ventre circa 1900 knife sheath sold by Cowan's in April 2014 for $4,305 (w/ bp) which has beaded rectangular section with triangle cutout, parfleche body with visible sinew lacing and beaded border. The sheath offered in this lot measures 11.5-inches long by 3 5/8-inches wide. Good, well preserved condition.