Lot 473

Lakota Sioux Fully Beaded Puberty Ball circa 1890

Estimate: $600 - $1,200

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 circa 1890 puberty ball being fully beaded from the Lakota Sioux Native American Indians. The piece has an old trade clothe canvas stuffed construction which is covered in period correct 19th Century glass trade seed beads in a crazy pattern being trade thread sewn. The beads include colors of cobalt, chalk white, greasy yellow, greasy green, sky padre light blue, amber, red white hearts and more. The top fo the ball has two fringes comprised of thread with strung beads. Puberty balls were typically highly beaded and used for a girls puberty rite. Provenance: From the renowned Sundog Fine Art Bozeman, Montana collection by Bruce VanLandingham. Bruce VanLandingham was a pillar in the American Indian collecting community and a respected expert. Along with being an avid collector, Bruce was also the sole owner of Sundog Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman, which was both part museum and gallery, this piece is directly from the collection. The ball shows little bead loss and overall displays well. Measures approximately 3" by 2.75" with an additional 3.5"L fringe. Museum collection number E1012.