Featured Beaded Sash. Native American?

What can you tell me about this lovely sash I picked up a few days ago. Looks like it has some age to it but I don't think it qualifies as an antique. Measures 60 inches long.

 

Shown above are beaded blanket strips made about 1880 by unknown Plateau artists. The two strips shown above were done in “transmontane” style—it is a style shared by Indian nations on both sides of the Rocky Mountains.

it looks like it wants to be this...with a plains or ojibway leaning.....
but it also looks new enuf to be 1980's or later......

( NO PHOTO...sorry )



try Plains Beaded Blanket Strip .......



or Plateau....

 

What are the beads sewn on with? Looks like artificial sinew sewing the leather pieces together.

 

Komokwa, thanks for the info!
Of all my favorite people on this board, you are my favorite favorite!

 

Puleeese....now my head is all swelled up !!

But thanks for the vote of confidence !!!!!!!

You always bring nice items to the table !!!!

( & u are indeed a gentleman ! )

 

I kinda get a headache thinking about the time, diligence, and eyesight involved in making something like that!

 

How is it now, komo, are you ok?
You are one of my favourites too, but you already knew that.

 

Yes, thank you....much better now !
( it only took one 'other' thread to bring me back down to earth ! )

You can please some of the people ,
all of the time.
all of the people ,
some of the time .
But you can't pick yer friends nose !!!...

 

Nor would you want to!

 

These types of Native American Beadwork are actually not too painstaking. It is created on a bead loom, which goes rather quickly depending on how big. I can make a 1.5"x6" straight piece, in under 3 hours. Later it is attached to the leather backing.
It is fun and lets you show off your creativity. Everyone can do it, just get yourself a bead loom and some seed beads and go for it!

 

how do you make the circles on a loom....?

 

I believe this blanket strip is not loom work, but well applied "lazy" stitch, where small groups of beads are stitched directly to the substrate in rows.

https://wanderingbull.com/lazy-stitch-beading-instructions/

 

Looking at the one above I am not sure how they accomplished that because it does look like loom work, (all the beads are lined up evenly). When I make medallions (not very good at it yet, mine come out loose and wonky, I mostly stick to the straight pieces, but I keep practicing!) the beads end up in circular pattern. You don't do that on a loom but by hand. It's hard to explain.
But yeah circles are done by hand by starting with a reinforcement (a beading foundation which is like a thin but stiff felt) and 7 or so beads and threading them through each other to make a small tight circle. When you want to go to the next row, you tie off the former and then bring the needle up through the reinforcement and start all over again.
Probably not explaining so good.

 

You could, but you wouldn't, because it doesn't look as perfect as stitched.

On the circles above you see the light blue beads (with cobalt blue at the ends) are following the straight row pattern of the strips. The red and yellow are part-circles, radiating the way most stitched circles are, and the cobalt blue wedges are stitched as Vs.

Personally I would have stitched all rows of the circle in the round, with the different colours on the same thread, but I am sure the maker had a specific reason for doing it the way she did. It looks accomplished.

I agree. You can tell it is lazy stitch because the rows are a slightly wavy line, with each group of beads in a row 'sagging' a bit.

In the photo below there is also a row which doesn't go all the way to the end, you wouldn't see that in loomwork. Lower left hand, seven rows from the left:

 

https://wanderingbull.com/lazy-stitch-beading-instructions/

this is one thing.....




straight line loom beading ............is another thing completely..

 

hju

Yes but beads break off all the time and they are never perfectly lined up, Beads vary slightly in size which creates non perfect rows.
It is nice work either way.

 

Sold for $750
THX Komokwa!

 

Excellent outcome vitry!

 

Any time, pal !!!!
very..nice sale !!!!!