Southern Cheyenne Beaded Lizard [SOLD]

Small animal beaded items such as this lizard were traditionally made by a number of Native tribes to be used as repositories for the umbilical cord of the newborn, as a measure of health and luck. They were hung from the cradle board and, later, worn by the child or attached to its clothing.  It was an amulet for protection and was kept throughout life.  Normally, a long incision was made on the underside of the fetish so that the cord could be inserted.  This one does not have an incision so it is doubtful that it was made for that use.

A Santa Fe resident recently inherited this beaded fetish and a pair of child’s moccasins (our Item #C3732C) from her dad, who recently passed away, and she is not interested in keeping either because she knows nothing about them and, unfortunately, her dad left no information about them.

I am not familiar with beaded fetishes but I was told by an Indian dealer that this was most likely Southern Cheyenne, so I accept his analysis.  I do not know the age of the fetish but was told that perhaps it dated to circa 1910.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from a resident of Santa Fe who inherited it from her dad’s estate