Antique 19^th Century

Folk Art Beadwork Sampler

Slip Case / Cheroot Holder

Micro Beads over Coiled Basket

 

Description: This is a fantastic, beautifully hand made slip case that I have owned for more than 25 years. The interior is finely woven coiled basketry in two colors. The exterior has an all over geometric pattern in micro beads. The figures on the bottom of a girl, a squirrel, a tree, and a dog / cat? are from 19th century sampler pattern books, the script monogram on the top is done in faceted beads and tiny seed pearls. My first guess was that it was a case for sewing implements, and until recently I had not found another example to help determine who made it, where or when, or what it was used for. In my last few years of searching I found a total of four other similar cases online in retail shops and in auctions, identified as 19^th century cheroot cases, European, Spanish, or Native American – my guess, after studying hundreds of examples of samplers and beadwork in online museum collections, is that these cases could be from Mexico.

    For comparison, I have added pictures in the listing of examples of 19th century Mexican samplers (dechados), beadwork, and beaded coin purses and pouches to show the similarities in colors, types of beads, types of patterns and pattern book images used. But so far I have not seen one in a museum collection with a basketry interior like these! 

If any beadwork expert or collector would like to weigh in on this I would love to hear from you!

Size: Measures 3 in. x 3 in. x 1 in. thick

Condition:  The close-up photos show the condition details well.

It is in excellent condition – both the woven interior and the beading. The extreme close up pictures show a few cracked beads, and there is some very minor wear to the top rim of the basketry interior

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