Beadwork and Wood

Marcy Burns American Indian Arts carries objects made out of hide or cloth, embellished with quill, moosehair, paint and/or beads. These items include clothing and objects made for the Indians' own use and in the Reservation Period, objects also made for trade.

Many of these items are from the Plains tribes, both Northern and Southern Plains. In addition, Marcy Burns American Indian Arts carries Woodlands and Great Lakes Indian beaded items.

Our focus is on items from the 19th century. With regard to Plains tribes, the Reservation Period is generally considered to begin in the 1880s and to continue to the early 20th century. We carry Plains Indian obejcts that are from the pre-Reservation and Reservation Periods. In the case of Woodlands material, generally our inventory focuses on mid-19th century.

Please feel free to contact us if you are searching for items from a particular culture or tribe.

Featured

Kwakiutl (Kwa'kwaka'wakw) carved mask by Kevin Daniel Cranmer

$0.00

labelled KWA-GIULTH, “BUMBLE BEE” and Signed KEVIN CRANMER 189

cedar wood and sticks, painted; fur that was around the masks (it has come apart and is fragile. It is probably rabbit fur. The sticks, or “antennae” are removable.

8 1/2” wide at the widest place in the back x 9 1/4” high. Depth of 3/4” near the eyes and nose

signed by Kevin Daniel Cranmer, 189

label of “images for a canadian heritage” affixed to the back

(mc2655)

$2600.

Northern Plains beaded blanket trip

$0.00

53” long

buffalo hide, very small seed beads in white, green, dark blue, greasy yellow and red, one copper bell

sinew and thread sewn

excellent condition with minor bead loss

late 19th century

ex: Private Collection

$2800.

(mc2384)

Seminole belt

$0.00

33 1/4” long x 4” wide

made out of cotton cloth with applique’ work and cowry shells

(2 cowry shells missing)

circa 1920-1930

ex: Private Collection

$165.

(mc2383)

Woodlands doll moccasins, probably Iroquois

$0.00

3 1/4” long

Deer or moosehide hide with very early seed beads (1/32nd) and small pony beads

Excellent condition. Silk is slightly degraded and there are a few small holes in the hide.

circa 1850s-1860s

$595.

(bd0246)

Haida Historic carved potlatch spoon

$3,500.00

This ceremonial spoon is beautifully and deeply carved. It has multiple totemic figures carved on its handle, which is joined with 2 copper nails to the bowl of the spoon. The spoon is joined by wire to a plexi custom made stand:

Mountain goat horn

circa 9 7/8” long

excellent condition with a very slight scrape to one edge of the bottom of the spoon

ex: Fred and Mimi Boschan Collection (purchased privately); Marcy Burns Collection, 1988

The images on this spoon represent figures who are well known to students of Historic Northwest Coast art. A spoon such as this was probably meant to be used in a potlatch ceremony.

$2800.

(M88.1)