Sold for $1,875

Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium

Lot Description

Northern Cree Quilled Hide Knife Sheath

mid-19th century

thread-sewn smoke-tanned hide; having finely quilled strip around opening which is further decorated using larger blue beads and quill-wrapped fringe

overall length 18 inches

This style of bag... is often identified as a knife sheath. The rounded end and gathered middle, however, are typical of eastern and northern gun cases. This bag bears an uncanny resemblance to the pistol bags in which new arms were regularly shipped to America. During the War of 1812, an American officer commented that he knew the pro-British Indians just had received new weapons because their guns were still in cloth cases. Probably from the Northern Cree, this pouch is decorated with a woven quill band at the opening. The fuchsia-dyed quillwork around the middle is an aniline color, an artificial coal tar dye developed in the 1840s. This piece probably was made just after 1850 (Hanson 1994: 253).

Published:
Spirits in the Art (Hanson 1994: 253, plate 263)

Ex H.B. Bompas Collection (July 12, 1937)

Condition Report

Hide and fringe is soft and supple; light scattered quill loss

metal tag at bottom is the Fenn collection tag

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