The lot features a phenomenal, historic set of beaded high-top moccasins by renowned Kiowa artist, Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings collected from the artist at Fort Cobb, Oklahoma; ex-Allard’s. Vanessa (Nesha) Paukeigope Santos Jennings (Kiowa, born 1952) is recognized as the last cradleboard maker among her Kiowa people and one of the few artists who still brain-tans her own hides. Vanessa, an enrolled Kiowa tribal elder, was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship in 1989 by The National Endowment for the Arts, a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists and is the United States’ highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. This award automatically qualifies her as a Living National Treasure by the U.S. Congress and the President. Her beadwork is on display at several museums around the country including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Museum of the Red River, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Plains Indian Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, amongst others as well as has won numerous awards at several Native American shows including the prestigious Indian Market. Due to health considerations, she is no longer doing any more beadwork. The moccasins exhibit buckskin from a deer, that is Indian brain-tanned by Vanessa Jennings herself with thick parfleche rawhide sole bases. The set shows original glass trade seed beads and petit glass trade seed beads across the tops and outsides of the moccasins as well as down the front of the high-top ankle along with a fancy beaded edge on the wrap. The beadwork shows classic Kiowa geometric designs and is finely done. Down the center of the high-top are nickel silver like concho domed tacks. The set is very well taken care of in good condition. Provenance: Sold by Allard Auction years ago and identified as Vanessa Jennings Kiowa from Fort Cobb, Oklahoma and valued many years ago at a high of $1,200; the original Allard tag is present. Each measures 10.25-inches long along the sole by 3 7/8-inches wide at the sole by 15.5-inches high at the high-top with the hide folded down as shown in the images, when the hide is folded standing up it measures 25-inches tall. Beadwork by Vanessa Jennings is very uncommon with most being in large museum collections. For reference see her beaded cradleboard in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian showing similar manufacture and pattern, this example was purchased from the artist in 2012 (notable fact, they refer to the artist as Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings, Kiowa/Akimel O'odham (Pima), b. 1952 being from Fort Cobb; Caddo County; Oklahoma; USA). Vanessa Jennings is also considered to be one of the most notable experts on Kiowa beadwork and cradles; she was asked to identify the Kiowa cradleboard from the George Shaw, Hugh and Gay Eaton collections and is noted in the description in the Sotheby’s Auction listing; the cradle sold for $167,000 in Lot 14 Sotheby’s New York May 2015. Furthermore her beadwork is highly collectible with some of her example being valued at $180,000 and some bringing $16,770 at auction (the piece sold in January 2023 by NAAC, shown w/ bp).