134

Ca. 1860- Cheyenne Beaded Bowcase, Quiver & Arrows

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Ca. 1860- Cheyenne Beaded Bowcase, Quiver & Arrows
This is a fabulous, beaded hide bowcase, quiver and arrows from the Cheyenne circa 1860-1870 from the Stephen Johnston collection and ex-Bruce and Ilene Johnson Mystic Warriors. The bowcase was purchased by Stephen Johnston for $35,000 many years ago and was one of the finest pieces in his collection. The piece is comprised of Indian tanned Great American Bison Buffalo hide being sinew sewn with exceptional beadwork. The bowcase / bow case is sinew sewn and shows beadwork that wraps around both sides at the opening and end that are sinew sewn with 19th Century period correct glass trade seed beads in a classic Cheyenne geometric pattern with colors of greasy light blue, chalk white, cobalt and red white hearts. There are fringes at the front of the opening and across the entire bottom that has a nice red ocher / ochre mineral pigment coloring. The opening has a fancy sinew sewn border of period pony beads in chalk white and dark semi-translucent ruby red. The quiver has two large beaded sections on the front in the same 19th century period correct beads being sinew sewn with frilly fringes, a row of red stroud trade clothe. The bottom has a parfleche rawhide cap. The original thick Indian tanned buffalo hide shoulder strap is still attached. The hide shows some stiffening but is mainly supple and well kept with a nice dark coloring. The case and quiver are accompanied with six original Cheyenne 19th-Century arrows. The arrows have thick iron metal points with sharpened bevelled edges that are secured to the expertly carved ends with wraps of sinew sewing. The ends show turkey feather fletching that is sinew wrapped with a banded design painted in mineral pigment paint with red, blue and black. The arrows have expertly carved nocks. One point is loose and secured with some metal wire.

Provenance: From the Stephen Johnston collection formerly from Darby, Montana and Foster City, CA; Purchased for $35,000 many years ago from Mystic Warriors owners Bruce and Ilene Johnson. Measures 41-inches wide by 34-inches long. Arrows are approximately 24-inches long each.