North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Early October American Indian & Western Sale

Sat, Oct 3, 2020 11:00AM EDT
Lot 488

Sioux Fully Beaded Umbilical Cord Fetish 1900-

Estimate: $500 - $1,000

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 an early 1900 fully beaded turtle effigy umbilical cord fetish from the Sioux Native American Indians. The piece shows an Indian tanned hide construction that is completely covered in early glass trade seed beadwork in a geometric pattern with colors of greasy rose, amber, medium green and chalk white. The piece shows an oval stuffed shape with protruding head and triangular tail and rope beaded fringe for arms each showing two rolled tin jingle cones with red plume feathers. The top of the fetish shows an Indian tanned hide strap. These were said to be filled with the umbilical cord of the newly born and worn around their neck. Provenance: From a historic Eastern Montana American Indian Collection, where the piece was found to be an authentic original, one of the finest collections of American Indian weaponry and antiquities in Montana. Both are approximately 5”L with the fringe and strap being 14”L by 5”W without feathers.