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Native American tribes on the Great Plains used the natural resources around them as the foundation for their lifestyle. Whichever animal was most plentiful in the region they inhabited was hunted religiously, and its horns, sinew, and hide used for everything from cutlery to bow strings to shirts, pants, and moccasins. Starting in about 1840, colorful, tiny “seed” beads, usually 2 mm or less in diameter, began to be traded in bulk to the Plains Indians. The seed beads were the result of refined manufacturing techniques in Venice and Bohemia, which allowed beads of relatively uniform size, shape, and color to be produced. After 1870, translucent beads in even richer hues became popular. The different Plains Indian tribes developed their own unique preferences for particular bead colors, and Native American women meticulously embroidered incredible designs onto garments, papooses, and horse tack. The lifestyles of those Native American tribes on the Great Plains, whose cultures were built and passed down over numerous generations and thousands of years, eventually gave way to the westward expansion of the United States, and they were assimilated into Anglo-American culture or placed in modest reservations. This pair of Antique 20th Century Plains Indians Beaded Deerskin & Canvas Moccasins are in Good Condition, with a sizable chunk missing from the inner front edge of the left moccasin upper, some scattered loose bead-work to both moccasins, some light seam tearing to the outer front toe of the left moccasin, a sizable hole in the outer top sole of the right moccasin, moderate seam tearing to the middle bottom heel of the right moccasin, moderate hardened darkening to the soles of both moccasins, and with some overall flattening, fragility, and age wear evident. Most interestingly, they boast exquisite “seed” bead-work, with “red white core” beads creating a cross-like pattern as well as “V” shapes throughout, and translucent pink, translucent “midnight blue”, and translucent clear beads completing the colorful display. They feature deerskin uppers with lacing, canvas bodies, and stitched deerskin soles, measure about 9” x 4 1/2”, and are a fine example of rare, original Antique 20th Century Plains Indians Beaded Deerskin & Canvas Moccasins.