Lot 19

Cheyenne Fully Beaded Sheath & Trade Knife 19th C.

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500

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
The lot features a beautifully beaded Buffalo hide knife sheath with an old tacked trade knife attributed to the Northern Cheyenne Native American Indians of Wyoming during the 19th Century. The piece is comprised of Indian brain-tanned Great American Bison Buffalo hide, with the entire front covered in artistically applied old glass trade seed beads in a typical Cheyenne geometric pattern. The beadwork shows colors of chalk white, sky padre blue, greasy green, Cheyenne pink, and semi-transparent red (with one replacement corn yellow bead). The base shows a single hide fringe that is completely covered in a rope beaded linear pattern of the same colors. The beadwork shows overall good condition, given its third quarter 19th Century age, and little to no bead loss. The back of the sheath has two cutouts to be worn on a belt and some staining from use. The old original trade knife shows a typical metal blade with a one piece tiger maple handle that is adorned with old brass trade beads in a nice pattern. Typically a tacked pattern holds meaning to the user and tribe, attributing things such as age, tribe, clan, etc. Both the knife and the sheath have a nice patina, given the circa 1870-1880 age, and are well preserved. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Dale Harrison of Ohio. The sheath measures 10 inches long by 3 inches wide and the knife is 7 inches long and overall 11 inches long with the knife inserted.