Apache, southwestern Plains
1860
Brain-tanned deerskin, pony beads, ochre pigments, sinew
Length 10 1/2" (26.7 cm)
Provenance: Jim Jeter, Santa Barbara, CA
Apache moccasins of the mid-19th century represent one of the most technically demanding forms of Plains and Southwest footwear, the brain-tanned hide prepared to a supple, durable finish through a labor-intensive process that remained entirely indigenous in method and material. Pony beads, larger than the seed beads that superseded them from the 1840s onward, mark this pair as pre- or early trade period production, their use in combination with ochre pigment decoration placing the work within the transitional moment of early material contact. Sinew-sewn construction and the quality of the hide preparation reflect the high standard of Apache women's leatherwork during this period.
This pair is decorated with pony bead edging and ochre pigment applied to the hide surface, with substantial fringe at the heel and ankle consistent with Apache moccasin conventions of the period. The brain-tanned deerskin has developed a rich warm tone through age and use, the hide supple and intact. Provenance traces to Jim Jeter of Santa Barbara, California, a knowledgeable collector of southwestern Plains material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Apache, southwestern Plains
1860
Brain-tanned deerskin, pony beads, ochre pigments, sinew
Length 10 1/2" (26.7 cm)
Provenance: Jim Jeter, Santa Barbara, CA
Apache moccasins of the mid-19th century represent one of the most technically demanding forms of Plains and Southwest footwear, the brain-tanned hide prepared to a supple, durable finish through a labor-intensive process that remained entirely indigenous in method and material. Pony beads, larger than the seed beads that superseded them from the 1840s onward, mark this pair as pre- or early trade period production, their use in combination with ochre pigment decoration placing the work within the transitional moment of early material contact. Sinew-sewn construction and the quality of the hide preparation reflect the high standard of Apache women's leatherwork during this period.
This pair is decorated with pony bead edging and ochre pigment applied to the hide surface, with substantial fringe at the heel and ankle consistent with Apache moccasin conventions of the period. The brain-tanned deerskin has developed a rich warm tone through age and use, the hide supple and intact. Provenance traces to Jim Jeter of Santa Barbara, California, a knowledgeable collector of southwestern Plains material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
