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A leather knife sheath with brass buttons decorating the edge and some quillwork still visible / Native American; Plains

Essay/Description

A leather knife sheath with brass buttons decorating the edge and some quillwork still visible.

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 with brass buttons decorating the edge and some quillwork still visible
Culture: 
Native American; Plains
Date: 
19th century
Period: 
Historic
Place: 
Great Plains, United States of America
Materials/Techniques: 
leather, brass, quill
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
84.785
Department: 
Not On View

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