North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Montana Premier March 4th Collector Auction

Sat, Mar 4, 2023 11:00AM EST
Lot 577

Early 1900's Chippewa Beaded Sheath & Trade Knife

Estimate: $600 - $800

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 a nicely beaded buckskin hide sheath and old stag handled trade knife attributed to the Chippewa Native American Indians of Minnesota. The piece dates to the early 1900’s and appears to be made from recycled remnant pieces of an old-beaded shirt. The piece is thread sewn and glued with old hide glue, showing some sections of fringe off the sides and bottom. There is a small strip of old red stroud clothe around the top rim on both sides and an old tie strap still intact. The back of the sheath shows yellow and green ocher mineral pigment dye remnants. The beadwork shows typical Chippewa whimsical floral patterns in early glass trade seed beads showing colors of greasy Cheyenne pink, semi-transparent red, semi-transparent, chalk white, greasy sky light blue, red white heart, greasy green, greasy blue, cobalt. Paired with the sheath is an old stag handled trade knife in typical fancier cutlery fashion. Said to have been collected from Leech Lake region from an old Chippewa family from the Jim Bastian collection, Kansas City, Missouri. The sheath measures 13 ½ inches long by 2 ½ inches wide. The knife is 11 inches long.