Gorgeous Old Hat Creek (Atsugewi) Indian Loom Beaded Strip from California (#18-107)

This lovely loom-beaded strip hails from Northern California, and was likely made by the Hat Creek or Atsugewi band of the Pit River tribe.  I believe it dates no later than the first couple decades of the 20th century.  Although it seems a bit short to me, beaded strip such as this are typically described as belts.  Inspection of the ends suggests that they once had an addition of trade cloth that would have both extended the length, as well as provided a means of fastening it.  It is composed of 4 colors of seed beads including clear, white, navy blue, and a lovely aqua blue that really pops.  The design is made of separated panels of diamond and zig-zag elements arranged vertically, and is attractive and eye-catching.  There is a small area of bead loss near the top center, which can be seen in the photos.  A beautiful example of Northern California beadwork.

Circa: 1st Quarter 20th Century.  26 3/4″ L  2 5/8″ W