48094

Kiowa Strike-A-Light Case collected from the Che

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Kiowa Strike-A-Light Case collected from the Che
<B>Kiowa Strike-A-Light Case collected from the Cheyenne Chief White Horse</B></I><BR>Circa 1880<BR>Length 9 1/2 in. overall; Length 6 1/4 in. case proper<BR><BR>This classic example is beaded on saddle leather with geometric designs including a "house" pattern in navy blue with a red "door". In addition, there are triangles done in navy blue and a zigzag band done in cranberry red, all against the white bead background. The cover flap is decorated with a German silver concho and tin cone fringe. The bottom is decorated with tin cones and twisted fringe. The reverse has two lanes of beadwork along the bottom.<BR>Aside from their utilitarian function, strike-a-light cases and awl cases were popular costume accessories. Kiowa beadworkers excelled at making these small masterpieces. Men often tied them to their bow case and quiver sets (see Lot 48152). Girls and women used them as belt ornaments and they can be noted in historic photographs (see Lot 48227).<BR><BR>Provenance<BR>Purchased from White Horse, a Cheyenne Indian, along the Cimarron River in Oklahoma by H.C. Schilling in January, 1890. Schilling was from Rogers, Arkansas, and hunted in Indian Territory. A letter dated January 25, 1890 written from Guthrie, Indian Territory, detailing the collecting circumstances and signed by Schilling accompanies this lot. The Cheyenne Chief White Horse was a signatory to the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867.<BR><BR>