Native American, Western United States, Plains Tribes, likely Sioux, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A pair of rawhide and hand beaded fetish amulets in the form of an eagle and a lizard, both animals filled with stuffing that consists of animal hair and / or the dried umbilical cord from a newborn. The lizard is symbolic of boys and beaded with traditional geometric patterning in cobalt, sky blue, white, red, and pink. When a child was born the mother sewed 2 animal amulets to hang on the cradle - one for holding the dried umbilical cord, and the other was a decoy to confuse evil spirits. When old enough, the child wore the amulet for protection. The eagle has American flags beaded into the wings, and the rest is covered in red, white, and blue beads. The fringed leather contains several glass trade beads, brass cone danglers, and horsehair tassels. Turtles and lizards were traditionally used for umbilical cords, and this patriotic eagle may have been for sale or trade. Size of eagle: 12" L x 7" W (30.5 cm x 17.8 cm)

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#174041

Sinew suspension cord on eagle is torn. Green patina and oxidation on cone danglers. Some fraying to threads, but beading is intact. Lizard is missing one leather limb. Beading is intact with some dark mineral deposits.