Native American, Northwestern United States, Columbia River Plateau region, Nez Perce, ca. 1930s to 40s CE. A beautiful horse mantle shaped from a length of buckskin with a cloth underlayer. The rectangular cloth features a light tan hue, beautifully complemented by colorful glass beading of elaborate geometric motifs. Featuring vibrant tones from orange to violet, the beading forms a square panel at each end, both comprised of an 8-pointed star encompassed by a border of nested triangles, as well as a thick band down one long periphery of additional triangles and cross patterns. A lengthy fringe extends from beneath each square panel, creating elongated tassels that move and sway with ease when jostled, likely intended to accentuate the movement of the horse during a ceremony or procession. This dramatic movement would be even more accentuated by the lustrous sheen produced by each bead when it catches the sunlight. Size (without fringe): 54" L x 14.25" W (137.2 cm x 36.2 cm); (with fringe): 83.5" L x 14.25" W (212.1 cm x 36.2 cm)

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: private Alamo, California, USA collection, before 2000

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.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#180648

Some minor tears and pulls, as well as light staining and areas of roughness, but otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation of beaded embroidery. Metal ring at one end for attachment.