Authentic 1930s Native American Plateau Gauntlet Gloves- Rare Cherry Motif For Sale

Authentic 1930s Native American Plateau Gauntlet Gloves
Rare Cherry Motif Price based on a professional appraisal by a Native American historian and museum curator- taking into consideration age, condition, and design/motif. The pair features beautiful floral beadwork with multiple colors.  There is some wear present, but that’s typical to see on gauntlets as they were used quite frequently.    The Cherry Motif:
While floral, geometric, and zoomorphic (animal) designs are incredibly common in vintage beadwork, fruit motifs like cherries are quite distinctive.
    •    This playful botanical style was highly popular among tribes from the Plateau region (such as the Yakama, Nez Perce, or Umatilla).
    •    The cherries are created using a tight, contoured technique (often called a spiral or circular lazy stitch) to give the fruit a textured, rounded dimension.Materials and Construction:
    •    The Hide: The gloves appear to be made from a soft, organically processed hide (like deer, elk, or moose), which has taken on a lovely darkened patina from age and authentic wear.
    •    The Fringe: Long, hand-cut hide fringe is stitched along the outer edge of the gauntlet cuff, designed to create dynamic movement when the wearer is riding a horse or dancing.
    •    Hand Accents: On the back of the hands, you can see small vertical rows of red and dark beads. These map to the structural "points" or ribs typically found on traditional tailored riding gloves.Condition and Value:
This pair shows genuine signs of being worn and loved—there is typical darkening around the fingers from handling, and a few loose threads where the structural hand beads are beginning to lift. However, the main cherry beadwork on the cuffs appears remarkably intact and bright.Historically, while Native Americans wore simpler hide gloves and mittens for protection against the elements, the highly decorative flared "gauntlet" style emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a beautiful fusion of styles: Indigenous artists adapted the structure of European-American military and cowboy riding gloves, enhancing them with traditional hide-tanning, fringe, and intricate glass seed beadwork. They were frequently made for personal use in parades, rodeos, and celebrations, or crafted as high-end trade items for collectors and tourists.