Blackfoot Wood And Metal Dag Knife Together With A Beaded Hide Sheath

Blackfoot

Northern Great Plains

Circa 1865–1885

A rare, prestigious knife from the Great Plains, preserved with its original beaded sheath.

The commercial steel blade bears the prestigious SORBY mark, beneath a crown, originating from Sheffield, the principal British center for the export of blades to North America in the 19th century. These blades were widely acquired by the Plains peoples and mounted on ceremonial weapons.

The handle consists of two wooden scales mounted on a through tang. An enveloping brass mount, adorned with riveted cabochons and delicate engraving, extends to a large disc-shaped pommel, characteristic of the great ceremonial knives of the Northern Plains.

The leather sheath is entirely decorated with antique glass microbeads. Its geometric design, dominated by a central medallion, a wavy line, and broad striped bands, is executed with great skill.

The knife’s overall design— the metal mount, the Sheffield SORBY blade, and the beaded sheath bear a striking resemblance to the prestigious dag knives of the Great Plains, notably the example listed as lot 118 in the Sotheby’s – Arts of the American West (New York, May 21, 2014), from the Mark Francis Collection of American Indian Art.