Plains Beaded Hide Turtle Amulet, Umbilical Fetish with Trade Beads

A diamond-form beaded turtle amulet stitched over hide in opaque seed beads of canary yellow, green, cobalt, white, red-orange, and brown. The lane-stitched geometric face is bordered in two-row scalloped blue-and-white edge beading, with striated chevron and "Cornaline d'Aleppo"-style trade beads strung at the four hide-tab corners and finished with twisted buckskin ties. The reverse retains its native-tanned, smoke-finished hide back, undyed and supple, with the pronounced stuffed center typical of dry-filled fetish construction.

Diamond-shaped turtle (and lizard) amulets of this form were traditionally made by Plains and Plateau peoples — particularly Lakota/Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho — to hold a child's dried umbilical cord, sewn into the body cavity as a protective charm believed to ensure long life. The lane-stitch construction, palette of greasy yellow and Crow green seed beads, and surviving Venetian-style trade bead accents are consistent with Northern Plains workmanship of the late 19th to mid-20th century ⚑.

CONDITION

Good as shown. Beadwork remains tight and intact with strong color retention and no significant bead loss observed; light staining and patina to the hide underside consistent with age and handling. Hide ties are pliable with expected age-related fraying at the tips.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• 7" L × 3.5" W × 2.25" D
• Lane-stitched glass seed beads on native-tanned hide
• Venetian-style striated trade beads at four corner tabs
• Stuffed/filled body consistent with umbilical fetish form
• Unmarked
• Attributed to Northern Plains origin; tribe and exact date not confirmed