Yes, typically one sees beautifully beaded Native American moccasins like this sold in pairs, but for me this collection of three single (and singular) examples is much dearer, including for feeling like stand ins for a family--father, mother and child. (And each very much bears the the imprint of its one time wearer.) These are all Sioux I am more or less certain, of the Great Plains, but distinctions between Lakota and Dakota in terms of beadwork moccasins are subtle, at least to an fairly untrained eye like mine, so I will not claim to know that. I found these together, purchased from a dealer in Maine from whom I've gotten some wonderful things of late, and know they came from one collection. They may span a bit in age, all between the late 19th and first quarter 20 century I believe. Tiny glass trade beads on hide, very finely beaded, with sinew thread stitching the hide together. I not infrequently come across beautiful beaded Native American moccasins in my travels, but these called very specifically to me, very beautiful, very tender and very full of life.
White: 10 1/4" x 4" x 3". Green: 9" x 3 1/2" x 3". Yellow: 7 1/2" x 3 1/4" x 2 1/2". Minor bead losses, as documented--on the back of the white one and one small strand I believe on the front toe of the green one, that loss very minor. Hide is stiff especailly on the green and yellow ones, the latter showing a bit of loss to the tongue and a hole right edge of the upper. All stable and sound and all the more beautiful and special feeling in hand.
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