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C. 1880 Arikara Beaded Sheath & Tacked Trade Knife

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
C. 1880 Arikara Beaded Sheath & Tacked Trade Knife
The lot features an Indian tanned hide beaded sheath and tacked trade knife from the Central Plains Arikara Indians dating to circa 1880’s. The sheath is comprised of Indian brain-tanned Buffalo hide with a parfleche back and covered in period correct glass trade seed beads beadwork in a geometric banned pattern typical of other Central Plains beadwork. The beads are done in colors of chalk white, cobalt, semi-transparent red, and greasy green with w greasy green fancy beaded outside edge along both sides and the top all appearing to be sinew sewn. The sheath shows good overall condition for its early age with some slight bead loss, and some very slight loss to the back hide with one worn through hole, wear indicative with its age. The sheath is paired with a typical clip point trade knife showing a two piece walnut grip secured with copper rivets and further adorned with brass trade tack circles (each containing six tacks) around each rivet and two large nickel concho tacks on either side (total of 40 trade tacks) all with a nice patina. The set displays beautifully together and is a nice original Indian Wars 19th Century example attributed to the uncommon Arikara tribe. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Tom Hardy of Indianapolis, Indiana. The sheath is 7 ½”L without the belt tie strap fringe by 3”W. The knife is 10.5”L overall.