Materials

woollen yarn, dark brown and light brown/yellow; opaque white glass beads; porcupine quills natural and dyed orange; tin cones; animal (possibly deer?) hair dyed red or orange; blue cotton fabric.

Techniques or Format

Garters are finger woven with interwoven white beadwork in geometric design. One end has loose fringe of woollen yarn; some of the loose threads are ornamented with white beads. Other end of garters is trimmed with blue cotton fabric and has fringe of wrapped porcupine quills natural and dyed orange, ending in tin cones filled with animal (possibly deer?) hair dyed orange.

Motifs and Patterns

A line of darker woollen yarn is woven along either side of the garters. Dying technique of light brown woollen yarn creates yellow lines. Interwoven beaded patterning is geometric with zigzag lines, cross-hatch, and diamond shapes.

Dimensions: 0 × 0 × 0 mm

Current Location: Denver Art Museum, CO, USA

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1970.548 a and b

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1970

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Denver Art Museum purchased these relatives from James P. Economos

Collection Narratives and Histories

This relative may have been sold at auction on December 8, 1969 by Sotheby and Co. at Warwick Castle, England (this information was provided by Eli Motsay in October, 2024 via GRASAC webform submission).

It was later purchased by the National Museum of Ireland from James P. Economos in 1970.

Source for Provenance information

Denver Art Museum documentation.

Publication History

Potential source provided by Eli Motsay:
Catalogue of Primitive Art and Indian Sculpture: The Property of The Trustees of The Warwick Castle Resettle­ment “A Collection of American Indian and Oceanic Art: The Property of The Trustees of The Warwick Castle Resettlement” Sotheby and Co. , London, on 8 December 1969.

Sources to Learn More

Kaufman, J.E. (2003). "Ralph T. Coe discusses his collection and how the market for American Indian material has changed over the years," The Art Newspaper. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2003/10/01/ralph-t-coe-discusses-his-co…
"James Economos in Santa Fe was the first dealer in North America specialising in American Indian art and once had the market nearly to himself, as far as I know."

Art Daily. (2019). "James Economos: A life remembered." https://artdaily.cc/news/116029/James-Economos--A-life-remembered

GKS Reference Number: 26678

How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Garters. GRASAC ID 26678. Denver Art Museum 1970.548 a and b.

Record Creation Context

This record was augmented by Dana Murray on June 27, 2025. It draws on images and information collected during a GRASAC research visit to the Denver Art Museum on January 22, 2024. Participants included Alex Nahwegahbow and Ruth Phillips, who were assisted by Eric Berkemeyer and Kristin Strid.