Description:

Native American, Western United States, Plains Tribes, Lakota / Dakota (Sioux), ca. late 19th century CE. A rawhide and hand beaded fetish amulet in the form of a lizard, filled with stuffing that consists of animal hair and / or the dried umbilical cord from a newborn. The rawhide from a deer or bison is hand stitched with hundreds of glass seed beads and tin cone dangles are attached to the tassels. When a child was born the mother sewed 2 animal amulets to hang on the cradle - one for holding the dried umbilical cord, and the other was a decoy to confuse evil spirits. When old enough, the child later wore the amulet for protection, the lizard is symbolic of boys while turtles symbolize girls. Size: 5.75" L x 4" W (14.6 cm x 10.2 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 Don Phelps collection, owner Todos Santos Trading Post, Alamo, California; ex-T. Pappas estate, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1989

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.

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#180226

  • Condition: Front limb is tearing and frayed and may break off if handled, and 5 cords with tin cones are loose and not attached. Some mineral deposits. Beading is intact.

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September 8, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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