Victorian Native American Iroquois Hand Beaded Whimsey Wall Pocket, circa 1880s

A large antique Victorian era Iroquois or Mohawk glass beaded boot whimsey wall pocket, an early example, c.1880's, with excellent hand sewn raised bead work. This is elaborately beaded in a floral and leaf motif, with hanging fringes. Bead colors are green, clear white, yellow,  pink, red and with sequins. This unique hanging wallpocket decorated beadwork boot is a pincushion, a scissors holder or cushion for hat pins.

CONDITION

This boot is in very good condition with wear commensurate with age including velvet fabric wear, no holes, wear to background front velvet fabric, some beadloss as well as beaded fringe loss and light discoloration and fading to the back. This piece is stuffed with thick stiff cardboard and raw wool or milk weed fluff. Please review the images to thoroughly assess condition. There is a opening tear/split on backside edge on wallpocket that inner stuffing can be seen. Some beadloss on top edge as seen in photos.

APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS

Measures 11" x 7-1/4" wide not including the 2-1/2" fringe loop bead work at bottom of boot and weighs 1 pound 3 ounces.

The pocket at the top of the boot measures 6-1/2" across and approximately 4-1/2" deep.

HISTORY OF SOUVENIR BEADWORK
"Native American “whimsies” are beadwork attributed to Woodland Indian women during Victorian times, which were made them for sale as souvenirs in Iroquois areas and Niagara Falls. Beaded bags and non-utilitarian “whimsies” became an important source of income for Iroquois women helping to support their families....The early 19th century saw the creation of bags, pincushions, moccasins and picture frames decorated in simple geometric and floral designs.
 

During the mid-19th century – as Iroquois survival was threatened by land appropriations, the loss of traditional trade opportunities and other economic hardship – the Iroquois developed new types of beadwork items made to appeal to tourists visiting Niagara Falls. Sometimes entire families were involved in making these souvenirs.

Another example is of cross-cultural exchange is the popular boot shaped pin cushion made by the Iroquois. The boot shape was a popular shape used in home-crafts of the time and became a standard in the Iroquois souvenir ware.

The boot shapes are decorated with Woodland Indian beadwork shapes of curving vines, woodland animals and birds. There are both left and right forms, both which have been produced in roughly equal numbers.

Beaded dates on souvenir pieces were not common until the 1890s. Dates appear on canoes and horseshoes in the Niagara area as early as 1892 and are common under the tails of Mohawk birds by 1897.

Every effort has been made to describe our items as accurately as possible including flaws and imperfections to the best of our ability, to give the buyer an accurate description.  Our descriptions are true and accurate to the best of our ability. We try to observe and report every defect that we are aware of to give the buyer an accurate description but to mention every single minor blemish is laborious and unnecessary. As condition and description is largely based on personal opinion, we ask that you look at the photos carefully and decide the rating and pattern if applicable of this item for yourself.

Our antiques are collectible and are not new and not reproductions, and have lived a long and eventful life and sometimes developing flaws.  Therefore, use and wear should be expected with these items, unless stated in description. We do not clean or alter unless stated in listing, and most times have been in storage for many decades picking up old age storage oxidation spots.

As condition and description is largely based on personal opinion, we ask that you look at the photos carefully and decide. 

We are happy to answer any questions about this item.  Insurance has been added to postage handling charges over $100.00 value. 

I SHIP IMMEDIATELY and packed securely.

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 Item: Beadwork38 - pg10/23