Cheyenne Sinew-Sewn Brain-Tanned Moccasins

Cheyenne, southern Plains

1880s

Brain-tanned hide, sinew

Length 10" (25.4 cm)

Provenance: Manitou Galleries, Cheyenne, WY

Cheyenne moccasin making of the late 19th century continued a tradition of brain-tanned hide construction sewn with sinew, the footwear produced with the same technical discipline applied to all forms of Cheyenne hide preparation. Brain-tanned hide, prepared through a labor-intensive process of scraping, working, and smoking, produces a supple and durable material with a distinctive soft surface that distinguishes indigenous hide preparation from commercially processed leather. Sinew-sewn construction, using thread split from the tendons of large animals, produces a seam that swells when wet and remains secure under the conditions of active outdoor use.

This pair is constructed from brain-tanned hide with sinew-sewn seams, the hide developed to a warm pale tone consistent with Cheyenne hide preparation of the 1880s. The construction is consistent throughout, the pair retaining the form and integrity of the original making. Provenance traces to Manitou Galleries, Cheyenne, Wyoming, a respected dealer in Plains Indian material.

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