Moccasins-Antique Fully Beaded

Moccasins-Antique Fully Beaded

These antique moccasins, crafted in the fully beaded Northern Plains style, are ready to enhance any collection. Made from Braintanned deerskin leather and stitched with real sinew, they feature a geometric pattern created with 12/0 seed beads. The design appears on a periwinkle background.  Rawhide soles provide durability. The left moccasin shows some wear there is a small hole where the Braintanned leather meets the raw hide sole on the heel. The previous owner repaired the left sole. The leather is slightly stiff with age.  There is no bead loss. They measure approximately 10″ long by 4″ wide and stand 3.5″ tall.

One of a Kind.

Northern Plains Style Moccasins

Northern Plains style moccasins reflect a long-standing tradition of craftsmanship, carefully adapted to the region’s rugged terrain and nomadic lifestyle. Initially, designs featured soft soles made from a single folded piece of hide. However, with the rise of horseback travel, artisans began crafting two-piece moccasins with stiff rawhide soles to improve durability across the prairie. To construct them, makers used hides from buffalo, elk, moose, or deer, often smoked or left white depending on their intended use. Before seed beads became common in the mid-1800s, decorators relied on dyed porcupine quills to create geometric and symbolic patterns. These motifs, often symmetrical and deeply meaningful, represented elements of nature, spiritual beliefs, and cultural identity. Ultimately, moccasins served not only as practical footwear but also as ceremonial and artistic expressions, with styles varying by age, gender, and occasion.

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