Offered for sale in this lot is an outstanding third-quarter 19th Century Lakota Sioux Native American Indian beaded pipe bag. The bag is constructed of Indian brain tanned Buffalo Bison hide and is sinew sewn accented by extraordinary beadwork on both sides. The beadwork is all 1800’s period correct glass trade seed cen beads in a geometric pattern showing a nice rectangular section at the base wrapping around both sides with a single band vertically attaching the fancy beaded top edge. The beadwork is in colors of greasy yellow, sky padre blue, cobalt, greasy rose and greasy blue. Each side shows a five-point star in greasy rose along with various rolled tin jingle cones. The original hide tie straps are still intact at the top and the bag shows expected wear from age and use withs some drying of the hide and fringe, but overall a nice supple condition with little to no bead loss. This iconic pattern of pipe tobacco bag predates the more often seen “beaded on one side with quillwork and fringe at the bottom” examples that were made during the early reservation period. The circa 1860’s pipe bag shows traces of old yellow ocher mineral pigment on the bag and fringe. The base of the bag shows long hand cut frilly hide fringe with nice patina and staining from honest age and use. The five-pointed red morning star has been documented by scholars as being a Sioux “Warrior Society” symbol. Provenance: The pipe bag was acquired by noted Indian artifact dealer Jim Aplan of Piedmont, South Dakota in the 1960’s directly off the Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation. Aplan later sold the bag to Mitchell Hodgkins of Rapid City, South Dakota who later sold the piece to wealthy London, England collector Cyrus Eaton back in the 1980’s. This is truly a fantastic rare authentic example shows fine beadwork, very early age and wonderful patina with amazing owner lineage. The pipe bag measures 29 inches long including the fringe by 5 inches wide.