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Lakota Ihoka Badger Society Otter Mirror Sash 1860

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Lakota Ihoka Badger Society Otter Mirror Sash 1860
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The lot features a Lakota Sioux Otter fur mirror collar from the Badger Society and dating to the third to fourth quarter of the 19th Century. The Iho’ka or Badger Society was one of the Aki’cita eligible societies. Aki’cita (or Akicita) has been often translated as “soldier” or “warrior” but its more accurate implied meaning is more appropriately as “guard” or “police”. These Aki’cita Societies would act as “guards” and watch over the tribe when the tribe moved from one place to another and keep watch for enemy activity when a camp was chosen. Aki’cita also acted as “civil police” to preserve order in the camp and had the right to punish offenders of tribal codes or conduct. Warriors chosen to serve as Aki’cita also had the responsibility to maintain strict control during a Buffalo hunt. The Iho’ka (Ihoka) Badger Society were considered amongst the most extreme warriors of the Aki’cita. They were said to have been started by a man who dreamed of a badger. They often took great risks against seemingly insurmountable odds, emulating the great tenacity found in the behavior of a badger, who would not think twice about going nose to nose with a bear ten times its own size and winning the fight. Among the notable insignia of this society are the society’s crooked lances wrapped in wolf skin, quirts with one serrated edge and otter fur wrist loops along with otter skin yokes which were later adorned with trade mirrors to blind their enemies. This is considered to be one of the only authentic original examples of a true Lakota Sioux Iho’ka Badger Society Otter fur mirror sash ever brought to public sale. The piece shows a large construction with two sash shaped pieces of otter fur having early blue trade clothe piping or edging with the same early blue trade clothe as backing. The top of the straps connection via strands of thick trade cotton string showing excellent large wound glass trade beads of dark blue and green along with Czechoslovakian tube glass beads and solid brass trade beads. The top strap shows a small older museum tag that reads, “MY86-174” presumably the museum inventory number. Each side of the sash shows five round trade mirrors evenly spaced with a total of ten being shown overall. Five of the trade mirrors are actually early advertising mirrors two for H.S.B. & Co. Hardware OVB Our Very Best, two that are no longer discernable and one Victorian Lady. The piece dates to circa 1860-1880 and is truly one of the finer warrior items we have brought for sale. The hide shows wear and loss of fur indicative of its early authentic age. Provenance: From a historic and important private museum collection in Paris France. The piece measures 36 1/4" long, and 17 1/4" wide.