19th C. Native American Plains Bow, Arrow, & Pipe Bag

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Exceptional Day 2: Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 3, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-10-03 10:00:00 2019-10-03 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 2: Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-2-pre-columbian-tribal-art-4453
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Pre-Columbian from the ancient Americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial and fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Native American, Plains, ca. 1860 to 1890 CE. A beautiful pipe bag made from deer hide with stunning symbols delineated in beads of translucent pink, spring green, royal blue, periwinkle blue, claret red, gold, and white hues on both sides. Conical metal beads with red fibers, a lower register of porcupine quill wrapped vertical bands - dyed in purple, red, teal, and gold hues, as well as a long fringe further adorn the piece. The three small crosses on the side of the bag represent the sacred cardinal directions, and the triangular motifs probably represented stylized clouds. Attached to the upper panel of hide on one side are wonderful tassels made of red porcupine wrappings, deer hide, and metal with red fiber termini. Most likely created by a Lakota (Sioux) woman around the year 1890, this is a beautifully executed example with exquisite beaded panels. Size: pipe bag measures 35" L x 8" W (88.9 cm x 20.3 cm)
  
  Joining the pipe bag are a bow and arrow which likely date a bit earlier, ca. 1860's. The bow is an elegant "re-curve" bow - this design being much more powerful than a bow made from a straight piece of wood. There are three bands of sinew wrapped around the central area where one would hold the bow as well as more sinew glued to one side to make the bow even stronger. The arrow also presents a nice form with an old metal point attached with sinew. Size: bow measures 41.25" L (104.8 cm); arrow measures 21.75" L (55.2 cm)
  
  Pipes, used for both ceremonial and secular purposes, were particularly coveted by Native Americans. Pipes were smoked during trades, healing rituals, dances, marriages, the settling of disputes, and war rallies. The smoke created by the pipe was thought to carry prayers, and tobacco was understood as a gift from the supernatural. This said, in addition to tobacco, leaves, barks, grasses, herbs, and roots were also smoked.
  
  Provenance: private Pennsylvania, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #149410

  Condition

  Metal tip on arrow shows nice age patina. Some minor loss to feathers and wrapping at opposite end. Some loss to the sinew on one side of the bow, but much remains. The bow has also aged gracefully. There is a bit of loss and some loosening to the porcupine quill wrapping and some loss to the red fibers emerging from the metal beads. The hide has darkened with age and shows a couple of small holes, but is in otherwise excellent condition. Fringe also shows darkening, staining, and a few losses, but most has survived and is quite nice.
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