Materials

Base material black woolen broadcloth-. Iridescent blue, red and purple silk ribbon edging. Porcupine red-orange quillwork. Sequins, greasy teal, dusty rose, greasy yellow, translucent gold and greasy gold, size 12 and 13 beads. Linen thread. Inside lined with plain unbleached linen. Handle is fine silk cord.

Techniques or Format

Hole in the stiffening cloth (paper pattern behind the material?). Made of 2 separate pieces front and black. Lined with a small inner pocket. Handle made out of fine silk cord that is sewn to top inner edges. Looped fringe with gold colour beads. Linear type of beadwork.

Motifs and Patterns

Side A: central sun motif surrounded by 8 leaf motifs with each leaf motif has lines extending from between the raised lobes. Small crosses. A border of zig zags with a single line of beads on either sides of it. Quill work inside the rays of the sun motif. Quill work also only on one stem.

Side B: Central sun motif surrounded by 8 leaf motifs with another border of zig zags but the composition is somewhat different from the other side.

Additional Context

This is typical of Seneca communities based on an unpublished paper by RP. Frank Speck went to Allegany and researched and collected samples which looked at this linear style at this Seneca community.

Other Notes

(RP) Chatelaine Bags common term used during the Victorian Period held on the belt-- design is like a shield like form very neo-gothic (RP)

Dimensions: 0 × 0 × 0 cm

Condition: Good. Some of the looped fringe loss and broken quills and bead loss

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

1870-1930 (the time period of sequins)

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am,+.6983

GKS Reference Number: 25717

How to Cite this Item

Unknown Seneca artist, bag. Currently in the British Museum, Am,+.6983. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25717.