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A leather knife sheath decorated with brass buttons / Native American; Crow, possibly Blackfeet

Essay/Description

A leather knife sheath decorated with brass buttons. The knife is made of metal and has a wooden handle.

Most sheaths were made to match the shape of the blade, the most common blade form being curved on one end and straight on the other. The sheaths typically covered not only “the blade but also the majority of the handle,” which decreased the chance of the knife falling out or getting lost (Taylor 2001, 52). Quillwork and beadwork decorated the sheaths, and the designs used often signified the owner (Taylor 2001, 51-54).

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Title(s): 
A leather knife sheath decorated with brass buttons
Culture: 
Native American; Crow, possibly Blackfeet
Date: 
circa 19th century
Period: 
Historic
Place: 
Great Plains, United States of America
Materials/Techniques: 
leather, metal, wood, brass
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
84.781a-c
Previous Number(s): 
84.781 a-c
Department: 
Not On View

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