Sold For:  or Sign In to see what it's worth.

WAMPUM BELT

CEREMONIAL "NOMINATION" BELT / IROQUOIS

I recently completed this wampum belt in the traditional historic manner using a heavy linen flax cording as the warp, and a sinew fiber as the weft securely locking the beads into place. The measurements are 4 5/8 inches in width and 34 inches in length. I have begun using the trade style glass wampum beads which are very popular due to their variations of colors. This belt is 9 beads wide and is the traditional white and purple (lavender) colored pattern. This belt was used by the Iroquois tribes for ceremonial purposes when a chief was nominated for that position of authority. The women of the tribe held the political power and this belt would thus be presented during the ceremony to nominate a new chief. The figures woven into the belt represent the Six Nations holding hands in union. This belt took me over one month to reproduce with close to 60 hours of weaving involved. It is very strong and will hold up well in usage.

I use an imported glass wampum bead made by the same Czechoslovakian producer of 18th century wampum. These items are hand crafted historically authentic to that era. The business has been owned by the same family since its days as a leading manufacturer of trade beads. The Czech plant produces the glass wampum on the same machines used over 200 years ago. Glass is and was cheaper than shell and as such, found a large market in the Americas allowing trade of the new wampum beads to flourish. As glass wampum became readily available as a trade item, more native people utilized it. By the close of the 18th century, many wampum adornments were no longer woven from clamshell but from the easily obtainable trade Czech glass.

This wampum belt would make a great addition for any woodland Indian or Longhunter reenactor. It would also make a beautiful addition as a decorative piece for any frontier motif in your home or office.

Please feel free to email me any questions you may have, or for information on custom work. You may also view more of my woodland items on ebay's MY STORE at Art of America Past Gallery. T is also a wide selection of my eastern frontier artwork which has been featured many times as cover art on the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association's magazine MUZZLE BLASTS.

Items in the Worthopedia are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright.