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Circa 1870 Arapaho Beaded Hide Hard Sole Moccasins

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Circa 1870 Arapaho Beaded Hide Hard Sole Moccasins
This is a beautiful set of beaded hide hard sole men's moccasins dating to circa 1870's from the Arapaho (Inunaina), ex-Skinners. The set exhibits a unique beaded bifurcated (split or forked) tongue. The moccasins are comprised of indian tanned hide with Buffalo Bison parfleche rawhide hard sole bottoms having a nice foot worn pattern, all being sewn with sinew. The tops are covered in 19th-century period correct glass trade seed beads that are sinew sewn in a wonderfully complex "buffalo track" geometric stepped pattern. The beads shows colors of red white hearts, cobalt, greasy green, medium blue and chalk white. The beadwork covers the tops, sides, back as well as on the top of the split tongue and a small fancy beaded edge around the medium height ankle. The set shows the original Indian tanned hide tie around the ankle and small fringes at the back of the heel. The ends of each split are further adorned with hide fringes with rolled tin jingle dangle cones. Provenance: The set was found to be an authentic 19th-century set offered by Skinners many years ago; from a large private Native American collection in California. Each moccasin measures 10.75 inches long across the bottom of the sole by 4-inches at its widest and 4-inches high ankle. Each moccasin is well preserved with most of the beadwork still intact with little loss, soft hides with some slight stiffness and no major damages.