Featured Beaded Multiculor Patterned Band

Hello Antiquers!

We've got this beaded band here, it appears to be Native American, yet we are not sure. Please let us know if you know anything about this piece. Thank you!!

 

Please post well focused close-ups of the beads, the ends and the edges (particularly any damaged areas that might expose construction). Is there anything on the reverse? What are the dimensions?

 

@2manybooks the band is the same on both sides. It is about 17.5" in length.

 

A few close ups, hope that is helpful. The band is 2" in width.The ends have been taped to prevent any more beads from falling off.

 

It is loom woven. The thread and the slightly irregular beads appear consistent with older beadwork, say late 19th, early to mid 20th century. Too long to be a garter, but possibly a sash. As the ends are damaged and part of the design lost we cannot tell how long it was originally. The design reminds me of some Great Lakes pieces that I have seen, (Ojibwa, Menominee). But keep in mind that crafters have been reproducing and inventing loom beadwork at least since the 1920's, when various books and pamphlets were published on American Indian beadwork. Without provenance it is often very difficult to attribute loom work to any particular group or time period.

 

one of my past nicer Great Lakes Bandoliers .....
just saying......



Unusual to find the florals mixed with geometrics...

 

@Kevin Donnelley may be able to tell us more.

 

Very nice @komokwa ! I was not able to find an example of that particular star pattern, but there it is.

 

I knew it when I saw it....
It's an older design.....but took some digging to find my old pics !
Still....I like your take on the beaded strip....it is hard to pin down the age, but my guess would NA made !

 

Yes just a guess without a known history of the item.Ojibwa women were teaching NA beading at the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota more than 50 years ago.

 

A pair of Ojibwa garters collected by Albert Green Heath during the first half of the 20th century, now housed at the Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College.
https://dcms.beloit.edu/digital/collection/logan/id/1162/rec/23

I knew I had seen that rectangle + diamond motif somewhere.

 

Now...less of a guess...& more of a I think we're on the right track !!

 

wow!! thanks for the great info! @2manybooks @komokwa @Hollyblue