PLAINS INDIAN BEAVER SKULL TALKING STICK,19th-20th century, possibly Lakota, Sioux. Skull is at top of stick, lower jaw affixed to upper jaw of the skull by thick leather sinews, with two black beads and shock of white horse hair hanging from skull, affixed thereto by leather sinews and a red band. Skull affixed to top of wood "stick" handle with leather sinews encircling and wrapping tightly the handle held in place by brass tacks at the bottom thereof affixed by leather sinew and green band. Immediately below, "stick" handle is encircled by a series of red, yellow, and blue seed beads wrapped in concentric circles of varying widths on each end of the bead field, with a much wider circle of black seed beads in the center portion of the bead field. Leather sinews at low end of bead field, affixed with one or more brass tacks to the "stick" handle, with two sets of 2 cream colored and 1 black larger beads, hanging therefrom by leather sinews. The lower jawbone is that of another kind of small animal, probably coyote, and extends and protrudes from the bottom end of the stick, giving the bottom of the handle a curved shape, and is affixed thereto by tightly wrapped leather sinews, held in place by one or more brass tacks (other side of stick is not visible in photo). With beaded horsehair decoration - L: 23 1/2 in. Estimate $800-1,200
