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NATIVE AMERICAN MADE BEADED GAUNTLETS – BEAUTIFUL
SET TO DISPLAY WITH A MOUNTED INDIAN WAR GROUPING:
This is a very attractive pair of early, Native American
made buckskin gauntlets, featuring classic floral
beadwork patterns on the backs of the hands and the
cuffs. Apparently to satisfy the market at the time,
these gauntlets were overwhelmingly beaded with floral
beadwork, even by those tribes that characteristically
used geometric patterns in their bead work. Perhaps the
Victorian styles and tastes drove the market, but for
whatever reason, most of these gauntlets are decorated
as this pair is, with bright floral patterns.
This pair is a full sized pair, large enough to fit a
grown male hand, and they show enough use to lend
character and flavor to your display or collection, but
have been well cared for through the years. All of the
seams are intact, and all of the leather is solid with
no holes or wear points in danger of tearing. The
buckskin has a mellow, smoky even color is soft and
pliable, and is overall clean with the exception of the
staining to the right palm, again evidence of real use,
likely on horse back due to handling the reins, and has
a substantial weight, certainly made for use and not the
lightweight tourist grade leather you often see. The
bead work is complete and intact overall, with no
missing beads, and no tears or loose strands. The only
exception is on the back of the hand portion of the
right gauntlet – within the dark red flower at the top
of the design there are three open spaces, each about
the size of a single bead. I cannot tell if these voids
were simply due to the way in which the beads were
applied or if these were beads that broke out during
use. I mention these here in the interest of a complete
description, but quite honestly you have to look very
close to even notice any difference and when viewed at
the normal hand – eye distance, they are not
noticeable. The cuffs are well lined deep into the
glove in a muted, old calico cotton print, and the
lining of both cuffs is intact with no tears. The
underside of the cuffs is quilted in order to give the
cuffs more body and prevent them from collapsing. The
fringe on both gauntlets is full length and complete
with none of the strands torn, missing or hardened.
This is a beautiful pair of beaded gauntlets,
characteristic of those used by 19th Century
army officers and 19th and 20th
Century frontiersmen, cowboys and Wild West show
performers, and perfect to add to your Western display.
(C 71) $850
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