blackened hide; porcupine quills; metal cones with dyed animal hair; red wool yarn; sinew(?)

Made from black dyed animal skin with sides and bottom edge bound with porcupine quills applied with possibly sinew in one quill edging technique around a thong filler(?); the same is done to the top edge of the front and back panels around the bag opening. The pouch front is decorated with zig-zag or wavy line border of porcupine quillwork in simple line technique. Near the bag opening, two horizontal rows of porcupine quill appliqué in zigzag band, with a dense row of metal cones with dyed animal hair below. The central quilled motifs include three pairs of crossed horn or hook designs, triangular in shape pointing upwards; four rows of zigzag band quillwork appliqué; and three repeated motifs of three-lobed designs pointing downwards. A fringe of metal cones with dyed animal is secured along the bottom edge of the pouch. Woven strap of red woollen yarn with braided and tassel fringe is sewn to either side of the pouch opening,

Opposing zigzags or triangles of orange and possibly green/blue on quilled bands at the top. Three pairs of crossed horn or hook designs, triangular in shape pointing upwards, with possibly four-directional or four-quadant image in green/blue quills at the point of intersection. Diagonal lines in four quilled bands near the centre. Three repeated motifs of three-lobed designs pointing downwards. Zig-zag or wavy line border. Interesting curvilinear design on the side border near the bottom.

Three larger central motifs could possibly represent Thunderbirds with two heads, with three-lobed motifs below as tail feathers(?).

Strap appears to have been added later with commercial black thread. The colours on this bag are remarkably vibrant for its age - possibly restored?

Museum documentation

Museum documentation indicates it was acquired through auction - 'Wilken' possibly the name of the auction house, name of the seller, collector? This is unclear.