Dig It - 1/6/22
Alright Seekers, this is what we call, “Over The Top.”
The knife sheath is Lakota and one of the Northern groups that strayed up into Canada. It has a foundation of Buffalo hide, so probably 1880s or earlier, and is beaded on both sides. What a color pallet this woman was in to - Psychedelia long before the 1960s! One side is yellow, white heart red and royal blue beads. The other side is pink, green and dark blue. This artisan was brave, bold and not afraid of COLOR. This sheath is 10” x 4” and the drop is 15” long.
The beaded sheath was collected by Hayter Reed, a Canadian, who first joined the Canadian Military Service in the 14th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles in the 1860s. In the 1880s, he joined the Canadian Department of the Interior as Indian Agent for the Northern-West Territories and later with the Assiniboine in Regina. His treatment of First Nations was particularly draconian and disastrous. By the end of the century, he was forced to leave the Department of the Interior and went to work for the Canadian railroad running hotels.
This masterpiece of Native American beadwork is available for sale. If you are interested, please send me a message or call me at 505-983-2652.