Sioux Puberty/Game Ball

This is an exceptional circa 1870 beaded and painted puberty ball from the Sioux Native American Indians. The ball consist of Indian tanned buffalo hide which is in an uneven spherical shape being stuffed and shows a band going across one edge with both sides having a maltese like cross all done in period correct 19th Century glass trade petit seed beads. The beadwork is in colors of greasy blue, red white heart, chalk white, cobalt. The piece shows eight triangle sections which have a rich mineral pigment yellow and red ocher dye paint. The beadwork is sinew sewn and the ball shows a single Indian tanned hide tie strand which appears to be original. Puberty balls were typically highly beaded and used for a girls puberty rite, with early examples such as this being immensely rare. The ball shows little to no bead loss and is in good condition.