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19th Century Iroquois Beaded Puzzle Bag

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 800.00 USD
19th Century Iroquois Beaded Puzzle Bag
This is an unusual, scarce 19th Century Iroquois (Haudenosaunne) Native American Indian beaded hide “puzzle” bag. These type of small-beaded pouches, most of which dated to the early-to-mid-19th Century, are called “puzzle bags” because of the split thongs that are ingeniously extend from the top and for a “puzzle lock” that keeps the bag closed. Most had a celestial dome or floral motif. This example is attributed to the Iroquois (Haudenosaunne) Seneca Indians in New York state. It is made of brain tanned buckskin, with old red trade clothe and tiny seed beaded design on both sides. Very minor bead loss. The hide is soft and supple with no apparent tears or repairs. Abanacki or Haudenosaunee puzzle bags are scarce to come across with this being an interesting example. Similar examples can be seen in the Museum of the American Indian in New York attributed to the Iroquois, Lenape and Abanacki are include in the phot gallery for comparison. Provenance From the Gary Henderson collection of Ohio. Measures 4 ½ by 4 ½ inches and a total of 9 inches in length with the slat tab extended.