PLAINS INDIAN BOBCAT SKULL PIPE,19th-20th century, possibly Lakota, Sioux. Bottom of jaw affixed to upper jaw by a thick leather sinew, which is also affixed to top of pipe stem. Hanging on the sinews, are black and yellow beads and two red bands affixing a piece of horsehair to the skull. Skull is also affixed by thick leather sinews encircling the pipe stem handle at the top. Hanging from skull are two sets of pinkish-red, yellow and black larger beads held in place by leather sinews and a shock of black horsehair affixed to stem near bottom of the encircling thick leather sinews, covered with black, and red beads and held in place by a sinew by red and dark blue banding. Immediately below stem are what appear to be 4 concentric circles of rounded and fitted pieces of polished, stained bone or stone or wood. Center of stem wrapped in multiple circles of multicolored seed beads of black, red and yellow, with two sets of relatively narrow red and yellow beads encircling the stem and a red and yellow beads forming a geometric design on the black bead fields, that form the majority of the beaded area. Lowest portion of stem immediately before the mouth piece, which is not decorated, is encircled with wrapped leather sinews - 22 3/4 in. long. Estimate $1,000-1,500
