KNIFE and its SHEATH
Plains Indians, North America
Early 20th century
Skin, porcupine quills, beads, fabric, wood and steel
Knife length: 37 cm
Length of sheath: 32 cm (without fringes)

Knife with a beveled blade and a handle with two polylobed wooden scales and riveted with copper. These types of knives were generally made in England or Scotland and served as gifts to Indian customers in the fur trade.
The leather scabbard is richly decorated on the front with a polychrome decoration of porcupine quills pigmented in blue, yellow and red. The border is decorated with a frieze of glass beads and long fringes of leather.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

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