Tennis Shoes

PAIR MEN'S WHITE HIGHTOP SNEAKERS WITH LACES, SIZE 10 1/2, CONVERSE ALL-STAR BRAND; SINGLE LANE OF LAZY STITCH BEADWORK IN GEOMETRIC PATTERN AROUND SOLE AND ONE SIDE OF LACES; HIDE STRIP BEADED WITH WORDS "KIOWA TRIBE" APPLIED OVER HEEL SEAM. BEAD COLORS: LIGHT BLUE, NAVY BLUE, WHITE, BLACK, RED, YELLOW, ORANGE, SILVER METALLIC. BEADED BY ALICE LITTLEMAN.

Beaded tennis shoe. One pair of white canvas hightop sneakers (Converse All-Star brand) with single lane of lazy stitch beadwork in geometric pattern around sole and one side of laces, hide strip beaded with the words "Kiowa Tribe" applied over heel seam. 12" (31 cm). Records: Beadwork commissioned in 1989 by JoAllyn Archambault, Director of the American Indian Program, National Museum of Natural History, who provided the shoes and requested the use of cut beads. This was the first pair of tennis shoes that Mrs. Littleman had beaded. She reported that it was difficult to bead an item that was already assembled. Associated names: Alice Littleman. (from Merrill, William L. et al. 1997. A Guide to the Kiowa Collections at the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology, no. 40. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.)

24 Jan 2023

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