Lot 203

C. 1870- Cheyenne Quilled & Beaded Pipe Bag

Estimate: $4,000 - $8,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,500 $250
$5,000 $500
$7,000 $1,000
This is truly a sale highlight, the circa 1870-1880 Cheyenne quilled and beaded pipe bag that was photographed in the Sherwoods Spirit of America The Larry Williams Collection of 19th Century Tobacco Bags. The bag exhibits the scarce and unusual wool stroud trade cloth top with Indian tanned hide section of period correct beadwork and original quillwork. Wool stroud beaded pipe bags have been documented as a unique pattern used during the 1870’s. This can be seen by examples, such as the example from David Cook Galleries, which sold for approximately $9,700 from the Plateau 19th Century and featured a red trade cloth top and beaded bottom. Another example offered by Skinner’s Auction in January 2009 is from the third-quarter 19th Century and the “Yancton” (Yankton); it features a red cloth top and hide beaded bottom and had an estimate of $15,000-$20,000. Yet another example, the Ute beaded and quilled bag (circa 1870), features blue trade cloth top and hide bottom with significant damage; it was offered by our company in January 2021 and had an estimate of $2,500-$5,000. The bag exhibits a large long pipe bag body constructed with red stroud old trade wool / cloth top having a fancy period correct beaded edge at the opening, below the cloth is a section of Indian tanned hide with period correct beadwork that wraps around on both sides completely covering the hide, yet more below the beadwork shows a section of parfleche rawhide with strips cut and further covered in porcupine quill geometric quillwork having natural mineral pigment dyed colors of yellow, blue and red. The bag is almost completely sewn with sinew with some very old repairs done in trade thread. The beadwork is all period correct 19th Century glass trade seed cen beads showing a typical Plains Indian geometric pattern on one side and a traditional Cheyenne design on the back; all done in colors of chalk white, greasy blue, greasy yellow, cobalt, red white heart. The bottom of the bag shows Indian tanned hide fringes which are likely show old repair work. Provenance: The bag was photographed and documented in the Sherwoods Spirit of America Another Man’s Vision… The Larry Williams Collection of 19th Century Tobacco Bags, from the Sherwoods Mark Kokin, Larry Williams and large Ohio private museum collections. Comes with a printout that the bag is photographed in, noted as being “Sioux Cheyenne Tobacco Bag c. 1880s $6,500” many years ago. The bag has a museum collection number tag marked J1035R / H. The trade cloth shows some small holes from age, the beadwork shows little to no bead loss, the quillwork shows good condition with most still intact with great color, hide with beadwork slightly stiffened but still supple, fringes are very supple / soft. Overall good condition. Measures 32.5”L by 5.5”W.