This is a fabulous beaded buffalo hide Plateau medicine tobacco bag dating to circa 1870 from an ex-Northern Montana old collection. The piece exhibits Indian tanned Great American Bison Buffalo hide sinew sewn with period 1800's glass trade seed beads in a whimiscal freeform geometric design, documented amongst the Plateau tribes of Montana including the Crow Apsaalooke, Assiniboine, and Blackfeet. The medicine bag is beaded on both sides and shows colors of greasy blue, Cheyenne pink, greasy yellow, greasy green, sky padre light blue, Cheyenne pink white heart, opaque greasy white. The bag shows a fancy outside edge and fancy edge at the opening all sinew sewn. The bottom shows frilly Indian tanned fringes with remnants of yellow and red ocher mineral pigment paint. The top shows the Indian tanned hide tie with unique fringe showing an interwoven old red stroud selvedge clothe end with fringes as well. These Medicine pouches are highly important to the tribe and sometimes held ceremonial tobacco, war paints or other important artifacts, this example having old inclusions that are not inspected. Truly a fantastic Indian Wars era 1870's example with supple soft well kept hides and little to no bead loss. Provenance: From a single private Native American collection where it has been since the mid-1900's. Measures overall 12.5-inches by 7-inches total.