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Osage Split Buffalo Horn Beaded Warrior Bonnet

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,250.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Osage Split Buffalo Horn Beaded Warrior Bonnet
The lot features an excellent split Buffalo horn War Bonnet attributed to the Osage Native American Indians from the ex-collection of Mario Luraschi. The piece was purchased directly from Mario Luraschi in Paris, France from the current owner after the 2015 Bonhams Sale. The piece shows a Great American Bison Buffalo split horn with Buffalo Indian tanned hide construction having an outstanding Buffalo hide and red stroud trade clother covered whimsical beaded front brow band further accented by black plume feathers and red natural dyed horse hair. On the top of the headdress war bonnet is another plume of green / blue to grey black feathers which flow into sinew stitched old blue stroud trade clothe trailing runner having old metal studs sewn under the horsehair and intertwined woven old red stroud trade clothe holding various wound glass pony trade beads and Buffalo dew claws. At the center of the runner shows another drop of feather plumes with medicine pouch like fabric embroidery pieces and below that a bird head with iridescent feathers, wound glass blue white heart old beads and further feather plumage. The back of the split horns show a red ocher mineral pigment coloring which extends to the red ocher dyed hide and the horns have a saw tooth ridge cut bottom. At the tips of the horns show sinew tied light tan natural colored horsehair held into place further with hide glue. The beadwork on the front shows all early old glass trade seed cen and pony beads in a nice whimsical pattern showing colors of chalk white, greasy blue, greasy yellow and corn yellow, greasy green and medium green. Mario Luraschi claimed the piece to date from the 19th Century (1800’s) as being a true authentic Indian Wars era War Bonnet and sold it to the current private American Indian Paris, France collector as such. After further closeup identification the piece shows the use of early 1800’s material and high craftsmanship with the exact age being unknown. Also shows two silver thimbles with old silk ribbons tied on. Provenance: From the Mario Luraschi collection, the same collection offered in the 2015 Bonhams Important American Indian Art from the Collection of Mario Luraschi with such amazing pieces as the $106,250 Ute Beaded War Shirt. Later sold to the current private collector in Paris, France by Mario. Measures overall 41 inches long from the top of the horn to the bottom of the runner when worn, about 17 inches wide from the outside of each horn tip.