Beaver & Buffalo/Mice? on Unique Vintage Iroquois Box Purse c/1890-1900 PERFECT!

Description

Excellent condition and very beautifully done, this beaded Iroquois Box Purse is over 100 years old. On the lid of this box purse is a beaver, done in all raised beadwork, mostly clear beads with a solid white bead tail, a single solid black bead eye and an area of solid blue beads on it's shoulder.  On the two larger sides stands a mouse or a buffalo on a light sage green velvet background. These creatures have a solid white and silvery gray beaded head area & ears. The body and legs are of clear beads, with the body done in raised beadwork.  The two smaller sides have raised beadwork border of mostly clear beads but on the bottom and at top 2 sides (not very top) are lines of alternating solid white and transparent green beads.  At center of the 2 smaller sides is a raised beadwork circle of clear beads.  All the borders on the purse's body are outlined in clear raised beadwork.  The lid is outlined with flat lines of clear beads.  A deep rose colored polished cotton fabric lines this purse. The bordering edges on all four sides are done in raised beadwork. There are six bead dangles hanging from the bottom of the purse - one on each corner and one in the center of the two larger sides.  The corner dangles are clear beads at the top, and translucent dark red tubular beads alternating with clear red heart tubular beads at the bottom.  The center dangles are clear beads at the top with translucent dark gray tubular beads alternating with clear yellow heart tubular beads at the bottom.   The handle is of two lengths of clear beads, twisted.
The purse is 5.5" at widest across front/back, smaller sides are 3" across,  from top of flap to bottom of purse it is 5" high. Beaded dangles hang an additional 3" below purse bottom.  The top flap is 3.5" long and 2.5" deep. The beaded handle extends 7" above top of purse.
All beads are present. In absolutely perfect condition.  The beaded beaver the only Iroquois beaded beaver I have encountered in my experience with NE Native Art for over 40 years.... and the mice/buffalo - ...  ????  I have had an Iroquois beadworker look at this and say these are buffalo, pointing out the gray/white "mane" and the short tail.  Another very knowledgeable collector of Iroquois beadwork says these are mice - with the "mice legs" ...  and mouse sharp nose. I have seen mice on 4 other vintage Iroquois beaded items, none are like this.  I have never seen an Iroquois beaded buffalo - SO Take your pick  But it is very unlikely you will find such an unusual motif on any Iroquois beaded item or a similar Iroquois beaded box purse that is in perfect condition.  But here you get 2 unique beaded animals - beautifully done AND a Iroquois box purse in perfect shape !
PERFECT condition....