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C. 1870 Osage Moccasins from Gilcrease Museum

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
C. 1870 Osage Moccasins from Gilcrease Museum
The lot features a set of hide mienral pigment painted moccasins dating to circa 1870 from the Gilcrease Museum and Bruce VanLandingham Sundog collection. The set features Indian tanned hide with hard thick soles and the outside being covered in mineral pigment yellow ocher paint. The set is in the traditional Osage pattern with folded ankle, yellow ocher covered dye and clean tops, and fringe at the back of the ankle. The original hide ties are still intact along with original rear fringe all having remnants of yellow ocher. The set was acquired by Bruce VanLandingham from the Gilcrease Museum at a deaccession sale. Osage items from the Indian Wars era circa 1870 are incredible rare with this being one of the earliest sets of true worn moccasins brought to the public market. The bottoms are each hand written, "TR #28" in pen, likely an old museum collection number. The set shows good condition for their early age with soft supple hide, hard soles that have heavily worn foot patina and softened over time, the left moccasin shows no major damage and the right moccasin has a separation of the top and bottom sole on the outside edge that extends approximately 3-inches but other than this appears to be in good condition with no signs of further opening. Provenance: From the renowned Sundog Fine Art Bozeman, Montana collection by Bruce VanLandingham and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa Oklahoma. Bruce VanLandingham was a pillar in the American Indian collecting community and a respected expert. Along with being an avid collector, Bruce was also the sole owner of Sundog Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman, which was both part museum and gallery, this piece is directly from the collection. Each measures 13"L with the sole and rear fringe by 4"W by 3.5"H. Museum collection number E1080.