247

Rare Mandan Fully Quilled & Beaded Knife Sheath

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Rare Mandan Fully Quilled & Beaded Knife Sheath
This is a rare Mandan fully quilled front and beaded buffalo hide sheath with early trade knife from the early 20th century. The sheath is comprised of Indian tanned buffalo hide covered on the front with an iconic geometric design documented from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes done in porcupine quill quillwork. The quillwork shows natural mineral pigment dyes of yellow and violet purple showing five square tabs. The top opening and outside edge are fancy beaded with early 1900s glass trade seed beads in greasy yellow, sewn with trade thread. The outside edge has Indian tanned hide long fringes and belt tie. The knife is a nice antique skinner with blacksmith forged blade having a single beveled edge and two-piece hardwood handle held in place with iron pins. For other Mandan examples see the Mandan beaded and quilled sheath offered by Heritage in October 2022 for $1,500-$2,500 which shows the same graduate square tab design and the yellow and violet quilled sheath from Fort Berthold of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes sold by Cowans in 2012 for $2,600. Provenance: From a private Wisconsin collection. Measures overall 19.5” with belt tie and fringes by 8.5”W with fringes and 2.5”W without. Knife is 9.75”L.*