bag, beaded

bag, beaded

bag, beaded

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Introduction

This relative is a small Hodenosaunee bag decorated with floral beadwork. It was probably made between 1840 and 1860. Mrs. A.B. Weimer gifted the bag to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1920 where it currently resides. 

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

This attribution is based on the style of the beadwork.

Date Made or Date Range: 1840s to 1860s
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Information in this record is from the object catalogue card.

Materials

black velvet; blue glazed cotton; green silk ribbon; salmon/pink silk ribbon; black and pink twisted cord; size 12 seed beads in opaque white, lavender, green, greasy blue, blue, pink; size 12 translucent seed beads in green, red, blue/grey, mustard, clear, red heart; size 10 opaque white and green beads; paper; beige thread.

Techniques or Format

Made of two pieces of black velvet, secured together at the top corners. Both sides are decorated with slightly raised beadwork appliqued upon paper patterns, edged with salmon coloured silk ribbon, and lined with blue glazed cotton. Remnants of green silk ribbon sewn to the edges of both sides suggest a piece of ribbon once secured both sides together, but has disintegrated. Two pieces of twisted cord are attached at the top of the bag, as handles or straps.

Motifs and Patterns

Floral raised beadwork. One side has a single large floral motif with sprays, and the other has a smaller floral motif with buds and sprays. The motifs on both sides are framed by a thick band of beaded lines. and the sides are decorated all the way around with a small looped beaded edging.

Original and Subsequent Uses

This type of beaded Chatelaine bag was often made by the Hodenosaunee to sell to Victorian tourists in the Niagara region. Chatelaine refers to a formal waist bag popular among 19th century women.

Dimensions: 12.5 × 14 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair. Much of the green silk edging has disintegrated.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

This style of the beadwork resembles that published by Morgan in 1852, based on collecting he had been doing during the previous decade.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: NA 9235
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/326434
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1920
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Gift of Mrs. A.B. Weimer, 1920
Collection Narratives and Histories

This bag was given as a gift to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1920 by Mrs. A.B. Weimer.

Exhibition History

American Indian Ethnography (1931)

GKS Reference Number: 26250
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Bag, beaded. GRASAC ID 26250. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, NA 9235.

Record Creation Context

GRASAC study visit, participants: David Penney, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, William Wierzbowski, December 3, 2009.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on July 27, 2024.

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