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Plains High Top Prairie Moccasins, Brass Buttons
Plains, North America
1880
Native hide, glass beads, brass buttons, sinew
Height 6 1/4" (15.9 cm); length 8 1/4" (21 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Tucson, AZ
High top prairie moccasins were produced across multiple Plains nations in the late 19th century, the tall hide upper secured with brass buttons along the outer side reflecting the incorporation of trade materials into a traditional footwear form without altering its essential construction. The beaded vamp decoration at the toe, featuring floral and curvilinear motifs in polychrome glass beads, indicates a maker working in the northern Plains or Great Lakes beadwork tradition where naturalistic and curvilinear forms were characteristic. Original brass buttons intact on a pair of this age are an uncommon survival, as the metal fittings were frequently removed and repurposed over the course of a pair's use.
This pair retains all original brass buttons along the outer upper, with beaded vamp decoration in polychrome floral and curvilinear motifs in blue, yellow, green, and dark tones on a natural hide ground. The tall plain hide uppers are intact and the overall construction is consistent, the sinew sewing secure throughout. Provenance traces to a private collection in Tucson, Arizona.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Plains, North America
1880
Native hide, glass beads, brass buttons, sinew
Height 6 1/4" (15.9 cm); length 8 1/4" (21 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Tucson, AZ
High top prairie moccasins were produced across multiple Plains nations in the late 19th century, the tall hide upper secured with brass buttons along the outer side reflecting the incorporation of trade materials into a traditional footwear form without altering its essential construction. The beaded vamp decoration at the toe, featuring floral and curvilinear motifs in polychrome glass beads, indicates a maker working in the northern Plains or Great Lakes beadwork tradition where naturalistic and curvilinear forms were characteristic. Original brass buttons intact on a pair of this age are an uncommon survival, as the metal fittings were frequently removed and repurposed over the course of a pair's use.
This pair retains all original brass buttons along the outer upper, with beaded vamp decoration in polychrome floral and curvilinear motifs in blue, yellow, green, and dark tones on a natural hide ground. The tall plain hide uppers are intact and the overall construction is consistent, the sinew sewing secure throughout. Provenance traces to a private collection in Tucson, Arizona.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.