Antique Beadwork

Quillwork

Antique Beadwork Admin — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 08:37:41 +0000

Quillwork is a form of textile embellishment traditionally practiced by Indigenous peoples of North America that employs the quills of porcupines as an aesthetic element. Quills from bird feathers were also occasionally used in quillwork. Reference: Wikipedia. Quillwork can also refer to the paper quillwork used as an artform, however this type of quillwork is rarely used with beads and is therefore not covered in this post.

Below are some examples and price guides of quillwork including a pictorial beaded scout’s jacket and an ermine war helmet.

A Fort Berthold pictorial quilled and beaded scout’s jacket
Partially beaded and quilled on ochre-pigmented hide, the face with beaded foliate and four-pointed star elements and a thunderbird on the right shoulder; the back quilled with pairs of radiating medallions and opposing horses and with beaded foliate designs on the arms; fringed along the seams.
length 29in, underarm width 19 1/2in

Sold for US$4,864 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023

Crow Split Horn Quillwork & Beadwork War Bonnet

a split horn ermine hide war bonnet attributed to the Crow and said to be from the ex-collection of the Dakota Frontier Museum display in Mitchell, South Dakota. The headdress or war bonnet is comprised of Indian brain-tanned Buffalo / Bison hide cap with hundreds of white ermine hides and tails attached to the top. There are two split and polished horns with old dyed horsetail hair tips with strips of porcupine quill work attached having sinew wrapping. The brown band is comprised of strips of tanned with artful porcupine quill quillwork done in cross motifs and glass trade pony wound glass pound beads in greasy blue.

Sold for US$7,000 at North American Auction Co. in 2023

Rare and authentic circa 1875 hide painted war shirt with quillwork and beadwork from the Southern Cheyenne Native American Indians. This is truly a masterpiece of American Indian art, showing exceptional craftsmanship and extraordinary art appeal. The piece dates to the 19th Century and shows a typical men’s warrior, war shirt pattern being comprised of Indian brain-tanned buckskin, with old blue mineral pigment and yellow ocher paint having a beaded trace clothe tabs or “bib” on the upper chest on both sides as well as dozens of long sections of black horse tail hair wrapped in quillwork and long quillwork sections.

Sold for US$27,500 at North American Auction Co. in 2023

PLAINS INDIAN BEADED & QUILLED KNIFE SHEATH & KNIFE. 8″ x 2″, sinew 4″ flanged throat which has white beaded edge, balance of decoration dyed quillwork. 8″ “WM GREAVES & SONS” marked knife with carved bone grip. This knife & sheath from the Floyd Ritter collection is pictured on page 3 of John Baldwin’s 1997 text “EARLY KNIVES & BEADED SCABBARDS OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER”. CONDITION: good overall, sound, half bead trim missing, delicate quill work has large losses, only orange dyed panels remain.

Sold for US$550 at Poulin Antiques & Auctions in 2023

Native American Tobacco Bag. Bead and quill work throughout. Minorbead and quill loss. Measures 32in x 7in.

Sold for US$300 at Turner Auctions + Appraisals in 2022

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Beaded Bandolier Bags

Antique Beadwork Admin — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 11:36:24 +0000

Beaded Bandolier Bags. Bandolier bags are large, heavily beaded pouches with a slit at the top. They have a beaded strap worn diagonally over the shoulder, thus resting the bag at hip level. The design is created using glass beads, a European trade good that replaced the traditional porcupine quills. The bags themselves are typically constructed from trade cloth, such as cotton, wool, velvet, or leather. Reference: Milwaukee Public Museum

Below are some examples and price guides of beaded bandolier bags including a Great Lakes bag dated 1852 and a beaded cloth bag.

A Great Lakes loom-beaded bandolier bag
Dated 1852, backed with black velvet, decorated with multicolored geometric designs on a white ground, with two bass bells and two old coins, loom tabs with wool and large bead tassels from the bottom.
lg. 35, wd. 8 1/4 in.

Sold for US$450 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023

Native American beadwork bandolier bag, bright floral designs, bag 19″ x 14″, shoulder strap approximately 45″ L x 5 1/4″ W.

Sold for US$450 at Kaminski Auctions in 2023

CONTEMPORARY BANDOLIER STYLE BOW CASE AND QUIVER

Beaded on trade cloth and cotton, with beaver and otter hide done in a Crow style. Hair and hide tassels. Red wool trimmed in white pony beads, geometric and feather designs on the beaded panels and tabs. 50″ top to bottom. Comes with a painted and decorated bow and 5 painted arrows with stone heads.

Sold for US$550 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2023

Navajo Bandolier Bag. Beaded image of a rider on a horse. Light blue background. Silver buttons along the leather strap, domed and stamped. Missing seven buttons. Zipper works. Minor bead loss. Note inside inscribed “Madame X”. Measures 31 1/2in x 8 1/2in.

Sold for US$1,800 at Turner Auctions + Appraisals in 2022

Beaded Cloth Bandolier Bag

Plains or Great Lakes, late 19th/early 20th century, wool trade cloth with overall decoration of glass seed beads loom and hand sewn, 47 in. long [Native American]

Sold for US$1,700 at Brunk Auctions in 2022

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Beaded Pouches

Antique Beadwork Admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 07:44:25 +0000

Beaded Pouches. Pouches are small bags often used to carry money, tobacco and other items. They are usually made of soft materials without clasps. They were often used by Native Americans to carry medicinal substances or tobacco but European pouches were more commonly used to carry coins.

Below are some examples and price guides of beaded pouches including a Plateau beaded pouch and a Native American tobacco pouch.

A Plateau beaded pouch
Possibly Apsáalooke (Crow), of hide construction with red stroud accents, beaded with geometric motifs on the face, the lower half and flap bordered in tin cone fringe.
length 8 1/2in, width 4 1/2in

Sold for US$2,304 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023

Gold, Wood, Silver, Leather and Cord Japanese Fishing Pouch with Chain Necklace
Wood bead ap. 38.0 mm., topped by an engraved silver medallion of a bending crane, gold ap. 19 dwts. Length 31 inches. Pouch 2 7/8 x 3 7/16 x 11/16 inches.

Sold for $1,000 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2020

Native American beaded leather pouch with fringe. Measures approx. 9 x 8 1/2 inches.

Sold for US$230 at Weiss Auctions in 2023

This is an outstanding, very scarce authentic original Cheyenne beaded hide triangle flat belt pouch tail bag dating to circa 1860-1870’s. Cheyenne belt pouchs with this long triangle shape are immensely rare.

Sold for US$1,200 at North American Auction Co. in 2023

Native American Indian tobacco pouch beaded leather. Size 15 inches long including the beads, width over 5 inches

Sold for US$350 at LOS ANGELES ESTATE AUCTION in 2023

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Zoomorphic Beadwork

Antique Beadwork Admin — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:47:17 +0000

Zoomorphic Beadwork. Zoomorphic (animals representing deities) were often used in beads and beadwork in both ancient civilizations and ethnic cultures.

Below are some examples and price guides of zoomorphic beadwork including an Apache drawstring bag and some Peruvian beads.

3 3/4″ Tall Beaded Apache Drawstring Bag. Circa 1910. Brick Stitch. Zoomorphic figure designs. Fully beaded and in fine condition. Little if any bead loss. Very colorful

Sold for US$300 at Tony Putty Artifacts in 2021

Olmec Jade Necklace w/ Tairona Gold Zoomorphs

Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Tairona culture, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. Six zoomorphic gold/copper alloy creatures, and over twenty small spherical, hollow gold/copper alloy beads. Also: Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 1150 to 550 BCE. A long, blood-letting tool-shaped pendant made from blue-green jade, four other, greener jade beads, and fourteen rock crystal beads. All of these are strung together on a modern cord with a modern clasp to create a gorgeous piece of wearable art made of ancient elements! Size of jade pendant: 2.75″ H (7 cm); length of necklace: 20.5″ L (52.1 cm)

Sold for US$1,700 at Artemis Gallery in 2021

4 Chimu Zoomorphic Beads, Peru c. 900-1450 CE. Including: 3 Chimu pottery beads, each a finely crafted animal head; together with a stone bird bead. Ranging in Size from: .5” x 1” x .5” (1 x 3 x 1 cm) to 1.5” x 1.5” x .75” (4 x 4 x 2 cm).

Sold for US$100 at Material Culture in 2021

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Geometric Beadwork

Antique Beadwork Admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 15:24:32 +0000

Geometric Beadwork. Geometric patterns have been popular in many different eras including the Art Deco era and the 1960’s and 1970’s. They have also been used in many different ethnic beadwork examples including Native American and African.

Below are some examples and price guides of geometric beadwork including a pair of Sioux leggings and an Art Deco reticule purse.

A pair of Sioux beaded hide women’s leggings
Fourth quarter 19th century, each decorated with multicolored geometric designs on a white beaded ground, attached a Hudson Bay Fur Co, Seattle label with inscription, “Pair of leggings Sioux Indian, Dakota. Solid beadwork over buckskin. Old geometric design. These leggings were part of General Custer’s Collection. Gen. Custer was killed by the Sioux in the war of 1875.”

Sold for US$1,275 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

Vintage Beaded Arm Bands

These arm bands feature incredible beadwork! The geometric design is set with vibrant colors including shades of green, blue, red, and white which is sinew sewn onto brain tanned leather

Sold for US$225 at Western Trading Post in 2022

A LATE 19TH CENTURY ZULU COLOURED BEADWORK WALKING CANE decorated multi geometric panels. (65cm overall )

Sold for £240 at Hutchinson Scott Auctioneers in 2022

Geometric lame silk chiffon party dress w/ scoop neckline, floating panels from left SH front & back & back right SH into drop W w/ additional floating panels at both sides of skirt all embellished w/ silver & crystal beading to emphasize existing lame motifs, china silk hem facing, B 34″, W 34″, L 42″, (beads detached under front left drape, many tiny pulls, minor bead loss, light bands of tarnish, 3.25″ shatter spot left B, wear/trim loss to armscyes, dark tarnish to seat) fair.

Sold for US$300 at Augusta Auctions in 2022

German Art Deco / Jugendstil micro glass beaded reticule purse handbag with polychrome geometric design and drawstring closure. 9″ H x 6″ W.

Sold for US$350 at Auctions at Showplace in 2022

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Floral Beadwork

Antique Beadwork Admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 09:14:11 +0000

Floral beadwork has been popular for centuries, sometimes as a design in it’s own right and other times as fill ins for other designs such as landscapes. Some of the prettiest floral designs have been made with microbeads which lend themselves well to the delicate nature of flowers.

Below are some examples and price guides of floral beadwork including an English gros and petit-point beadwork picture and a microbeaded purse.

AN ENGLISH GROS AND PETIT-POINT, BEADWORK AND FELTWORK FLORAL PICTURE
LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY, THE EMBROIDERY BY G. GRINDLING

In moulded maple frame, the reverse with wedding present label ‘1055./ One picture by G. Grindling/ From: Mr. & Mrs. G. Grindling’
141⁄2 x 14 in. (37 x 35.5 cm.) framed

Sold for GBP 625 inc. premium at Christie’s in 2020

Victorian Beadwork Panel Mounted Giltwood Low Table
The rectangular top inset with a beadwork floral panel, raised on bamboo turned legs. Height 18 inches (45.7 cm), width 43 inches (1.09 m).

Sold for $2,812 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2018

Antique Schaupert Perltasche Microbeaded Bag, 800 Silver Reticulated frame detailed with repousse winged putti, framed by flowers and scrollwork. Unique leaf link chain. Stunning floral micro beadwork in red, blues, greens and yellows on a champagne ground, small turquoise colored tassel on the bottom. Pink satin lining with ribbon roses, maker’s tag. Indistinct hallmark on silver Approx.
Measurements: 7.375 in wide x 13.5 in length total. Including handle 20.5 in total length.

Sold for US$200 at Global Auctions Company in 2022

A pair of Ojibwe (Chippewa) beaded dog blankets
Each of black velvet and trade cloth, with yarn fringe and beadwork borders enclosing elaborate vining floral beadwork.
each approximately: length 22in, width 19 1/2in

Sold for US$4,800 at Bonham’s in 2022

Charles II Beadwork Casket

Probably Netherlands Circa 1680

of rectangular form with domed lid; the black ground with multicoloured glass beads decorated with floral sprays on all sides; the interior lined in red silk

Height 4 3/4 in. by Width 11 in. by Depth 7 1/2 in.

Sold for 6,048 USD at Sotheby’s in 2021

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Ojibwe Beadwork

Antique Beadwork Admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 08:46:59 +0000

Ojibwa beadwork comes from the Great Lakes area, specifically in Southern Canada. It often incorporates floral and geometric designs and quillwork. Occasionally other designs such as zoomorphic, anthropomorphic, dream, and clan symbols can be found but these are very rare.

Below are some examples and price guides of Ojibwe beadwork including a rare Eastern Great Lakes pouch and a late 19th bandolier.

A RARE EASTERN GREAT LAKES QUILLED AND BEADED NECK POUCH
Probably Eastern Ojibwe, the rectangular trade cloth bag with white pony bead surround, one quillwork panel worked with an opposing pair of thunderbirds and two panels with stepped geometric motifs, with two rows of beaded hide tabs suspending tin cones and hair drops, on a fabric strap.
length of pouch 11 5/8in, width 6 1/8in

Sold for US$ 75,075 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2019

A Great Lakes Ojibwa Bandolier, late 19th century, the beaded bag decorated with abstract multi-color floral designs on a beaded white and black velvet ground, above blue and red wool tassels, together with a hand written letter from Frank (Ta-Tanka-Ska) White Buffalo Man (1903-1977) dated 1956

Sold for US$700 at Clars Auction Gallery in 2021

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