Lot 209

C. 1860 Cheyenne Beaded Triangle Belt Pouch

Estimate: $3,000 - $6,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
This is an incredibly rare authentic original Cheyenne beaded hide triangle flat belt pouch dating to circa 1860-1870. Cheyenne belt pouchs with this long triangle flap attached to a smaller square bag are immensely rare. For example see the bag sold by Skinner in 2015 for $18,450 and another sold by Skinner in 2017 for $9,840 (both sold within their estimates of $15,000-$20,000 and $8,000-$12,000) with our example being nearly identical in shape, material, tribe and age. The bag features a thick Buffalo Indian tanned hide which is sinew sewn and adorned with period correct glass trade seed beads in a traditional geometric pattern. The beadwork includes colors of light blue, cobalt and greasy yellow. The bag has a long tail like triangle flap covered with 20 rolled ring jingle dangle cones having red ocher dyed horse hair and is attached with sinew to the swuare tab belt pouch bag which also holds four rolled tin jingle cones with red ocher dyed horse hair and has matching beadwork along both sides. The inside of the pouch shows two original hide ties and the back of the bag also shows a belt hide tie with four faceted old Russian glass trade beads. The inside of the long triangle tail flap is heavily patina'd with a darker oily color. Overall the hide is still stupple and soft with some stiffening. The sinew is exposed in a few spots with very little to no bead loss and no major damage. Provenance: From the renowned Sundog Fine Art Bozeman, Montana collection by Bruce VanLandingham. 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. Possibly one of the more scarce Indian Wars era beaded items in the sale with wonderful collecting history. Measures overall 14"L by 4.5"W. Likely of a better overall beadwork appeal than the example that nearly brought $20,000 in 2015. Museum collection number E1047.