$124,425
Rare and Historic Plains Pictorial Beaded Suitcase, Lakota, c. late 19th century, the multicolored pictorial beadwork done on buffalo hide and covering a commercial leather and metal period suitcase, using both overlay and lazy stitch, the sides and top with classic 19th century Lakota geometric designs, the first panel (pictured in a historic photograph by Frank B. Fiske) portrays two mounted cowboys lassoing cattle, both cattle have identifiable cattle brands, the reverse side with similar border shows a traditional Lakota camp scene with profile multicolored horse heads at top and left side, in front of the tipi is a drying rack where various decorated robes are displayed, the two women are wearing red trade cloth dresses while a girl wearing a blue dress is leading a saddled horse, a single male wearing a blanket and carrying a pipe and pipebag stands near a rack of hanging kettles, the name Ida (?) Claymore is beaded on the upper right, all bead colors are from the 19th century and on a medium blue background, (minor bead loss and hide separation, patina of use), lg. 17, ht. of beadwork 10 1/2, wd. 10 in. Provenance: Estate of Mary Ann Claymore. Literature: For discussion of Sioux pictorial beadwork and this suitcase see "Pictographic Sioux Beadwork, A Re-Examination," F. Dennis Lessard, American Indian Art Magazine, Autumn 1991.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2010-05-15
