When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Native American Style Bone Hair Pipe Choker with Abalone Shell – Framed Collectible with 1957 Smithsonian Historical Reference
Offered for sale is a beautifully constructed, Native American-style four-row hair-pipe choker featuring what appear to be genuine bone beads, four natural abalone shell pendants, leather or suede components, and decorative spacer beads.
This piece was acquired from a collection that also included displayed authentic Native American arrowheads. It was previously presented in a framed display alongside an illustrated historical reference from a 1957 Smithsonian Institution publication documenting traditional Native American hair-pipe adornment. Unsure whether this is an authentic piece of 19th/20th century Native American jewelry or whether it is a 20th century replica.
MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION
* Approximately four rows of elongated, tapered, cream-colored hair-pipe beads, believed to be genuine bone.
* Four circular pendants believed to be natural abalone shell, displaying iridescent green, blue, purple, and pink coloration
* Genuine-looking leather or suede triangular end tabs and neck ties
* Small reddish, cream, and metallic-looking decorative spacer beads, possibly glass or other materials
* Leather or suede connecting strips between the bead sections
* Natural-colored cord or thread
* Hand-assembled construction with visible variations in coloration, texture, and surface finish
The hair-pipe beads display longitudinal grain-like markings, slight surface irregularities, and natural-looking color variations. The abalone pendants have distinctive swirling patterns and iridescence.
HISTORICAL SMITHSONIAN REFERENCE – PUBLISHED 1957
The display includes a photographic illustration identified as Plate 23 from the Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 164, published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1957.
The illustration comes from:
Hair Pipes in Plains Indian Adornment: A Study in Indian and White Ingenuity
Author: John C. Ewers
Publication: Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 164, Anthropological Paper No. 50
Publication Year: 1957
Pages: 29–85
Plate 23: Hair Pipes Worn as Chokers
The historical photographs illustrate Native American hair-pipe and dentalium-shell chokers, including examples associated with:
* Kiowa head chief – 1834
* Sauk and Fox – 1887–1893
* Osage – 1904
* Yankton – 1867 (dentalium-shell choker)
The original Smithsonian study documents the development, manufacture, trade, and traditional use of hair-pipe adornments among numerous Native American communities.
This 1957 publication is an authentic historical research source. The accompanying illustration is provided as a reference and does not establish the age or tribal affiliation of the choker being sold. The printing date of the physical reference sheet itself has not been established.
AGE, AUTHENTICITY & PROVENANCE
I am not an expert in Native American artifacts or historical jewelry. However, based on my research and close examination, the materials appear consistent with genuine bone, natural abalone shell, and leather rather than inexpensive synthetic imitations.
During a small material test, an inconspicuous area of one bead was briefly contacted with a heated soldering iron and produced an odor resembling burning hair, consistent with an animal-derived material. This observation is not definitive proof of bone.
The piece came from a collection that also included displayed authentic Native American arrowheads and other historical collectibles.
The exact maker, date of manufacture, tribal affiliation, and geographic origin have not been established.
It may be a vintage handmade example or a later Native American-style reproduction constructed using genuine natural materials. No specific tribal attribution or antique date is claimed or guaranteed.
CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Pre-owned condition with visible surface wear, natural-looking discoloration, scratches, marks, and irregularities throughout the beads and leather.
The leather remains soft in areas. There is evidence suggesting possible previous moisture exposure affecting the framed display and backing materials.
IMPORTANT: Some of the metal pins or fasteners associated with the display are rusty. Please use caution when handling the frame or removing the choker.
There is visible age-related wear to the cord, leather components, beads, and display. One bead has a small area affected by the material test described above.
Please review all photographs closely for exact condition.
COLLECTOR INTEREST
An interesting collectible for enthusiasts of:
* Native American-style and Plains-inspired jewelry
* Bone hair-pipe chokers and traditional adornment
* Abalone shell jewelry
* Vintage handmade jewelry and natural materials
* Ethnographic and historical collectibles
* Smithsonian and Bureau of American Ethnology historical references
Includes the choker and associated historical display materials as shown in the photographs.
Sold as pictured, with no formal authentication or guaranteed age or tribal attribution. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.
