A Unique Northeastern Embroidered and Painted Deerhide

19th century

softly tanned hide, with silk and finely wrapped leather embroidery creating an intricate floral design; further embellished with red, blue, and yellow pigments, faceted brass beads.

The function of this piece is unknown. Various opinions suggest It may have been used as a runner on a table, or potentially a covering for a Catholic altar.

length 51 inches x width 19 inches

Included is a file of correspondence regarding the age, tribal attribution, and function from the following institutions:

-Musee de L'Homme, Anne Fardoulis, (1978)
-Nova Scotia Museum, Ruth H. Whitehead, to Denis B. Alsford, National Museums of Canada (1978)
-University of Pennsylvania, John D. Witthoft (nd)
-Royal Ontario Museum, Arni Brownstone (1978)
-National Museum of Natural History - Smithsonian Institution, Kate Duncan (1979)
-Pigment Analysis, Walter C. McCrone Associates, Inc., Chicago (1984)
-AMS Radiocarbon Dating, University of Arizona, Tucson (1996)

Also included is a 1997 appraisal.

For a similar example identified as possibly Huron, and noted at the time of publication: Whether this object was functional in intent or an exercise in embroidery is not known. There does not appear to be another published skin like it. See Pleasing the Sprits (Ewing 1982: fig, 361, pg. 304).

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

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Danica Farnand

Ms. Farnand has helmed the Native American Art department since its inception at Cowan's Auctions in 2003, developing it into one of the most respected and successful departments in the category. Throughout her career, Ms. Farnand has sold over $50 million in Native Art, and has created focused and curated auctions for 19th and 20th century Native works, Jewelry, and Modern and Contemporary Native and Indigenous Arts. A distinguished expert in her field, Ms. Farnand is a respected voice in the ongoing dialogue between Native American tribal groups and the collecting community regarding culturally significant objects, serving as a board member of the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA) since 2019, and spearheading the effort to return a sacred Ahayu:da wooden figure to its rightful home in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico in 2020. She has also been an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow since 2016. Ms. Farnand holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Art History from John Carroll University.

Native American Art, Session I

A Unique Northeastern Embroidered and Painted Deerhide

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