Sioux or Cheyenne Beaded Turtle Umbilical Amulet

Plains Indian turtle-form umbilical fetish, fully beaded in lazy-stitch and overlay technique with seed beads in pink, white, cobalt, sky blue, red white-heart, green, and yellow over a hide-stuffed muslin body. The carapace carries a concentric diamond medallion radiating from a green center through bands of white, cobalt, and rose pink — a composition consistent with Northern Plains work, most often associated with Lakota (Sioux) and Cheyenne beadworkers. Each of the four limbs and the head are wrapped in alternating cobalt and pink bands and terminate in twisted hide cord with rolled tin cone (tinkler) danglers; a red-wrapped quilled or hide-bound loop trails from the tail.

The reverse retains the original muslin backing worked in a secondary "ladder" or "box-and-line" pattern of turquoise, yellow, green, and white seed beads — a fully two-sided construction characteristic of amulets intended to be worn or hung visibly from a cradleboard. Turtle effigies of this form traditionally held a girl's umbilical cord as a protective and long-life charm; the lizard form was reserved for boys.

CONDITION

Good as shown, with light staining and age-toning to the muslin underside and softened fiber cords. Beadwork remains tight and intact across both faces with no significant losses, and all tin cones and cord ties are present.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• 2" D × 3.5" W × 6" L
• Glass seed beads (including red white-hearts), hide, muslin, fiber cord, rolled tin cone danglers
• Lazy-stitch and overlay beadwork, two-sided construction