Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1041:
Description
This is a charming collection of three late 19th to early 20th-century Native American beaded items, and based on the floral designs and whimsical shapes, a Mohawk (Kanyen’kehá:ka) attribution within the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy is highly plausible. The Mohawk, centered around areas like Kahnawake and Akwesasne, were among the most prolific producers of these tourist trade beaded novelties for the Victorian market. This group of “whimsies” includes a small, scalloped pocket or pouch with vibrant floral designs in seed beads on a red cloth backing, featuring white bead scalloping; a circular pin cushion with a central floral or star motif and a heavy green fringe; and a stylized, anthropomorphic “boot” or torso-shaped pin cushion, traditionally a good luck charm, executed in red cloth with raised clear-glass beadwork depicting floral clusters. These pieces perfectly illustrate the transition and fusion of traditional Native craft with Victorian-era sensibilities and materials. The condition is consistent with age and use, showing significant wear, fading, and soiling, particularly on the brown leather/fabric lining of the pouch and the undecorated back of the “boot” pin cushion. The “boot” pin cushion has visible losses and breaks to the raised beadwork and fabric wear, while the red cloth on the back of the pouch is faded. The circular pin cushion has loose beads on the fringe. Pouch H 4.5″, W 4.5″, D 0.5″. Pin Cushion H 1″, W 3.5″, D 3.5″. Boot H 7″, W 4.5″, D 2″.From the Native American display in Donley’s Wild West Town.
Share this lot:
