Bag, Bandolier

Bag, Bandolier

Bag, Bandolier

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Introduction

This bandolier bag was hand sewn with American made red twill blanketing, Calico, and beadwork that was loomwoven. Bead colors include white, transparent burgundy, opaque sky blue and navy, transparent dark green, opaque medium green. Design has zig zag, radiating diamonds, stepped triangles, and ottertails. This item is from the Great Lakes region during the 1880s and was donated to the museum in 1953 by Mrs. Charles Scudder.

Date Made or Date Range: 1880s
Materials

Red twill blanketing, American made(2-1), in poor condition. Cotton binding 1-1 plain weave. Burgundy yarn, cotton thread. Blue Calico interfacing on underside of pouch. Body of the lower panel, straps Muslin-backed. Blue wool tape (8-9 in.)associated but detached from bag. Size 11 seed beads opalescent white, transparent burgundy, opaque sky blue and navy, transparent dark green, opaque medium green.

Techniques or Format

Basketweave, hand sewn. Loom woven in two pieces: strap and lower panel with tabs. Bottom panel is attached to a wider panel as a backing that frames it with a border of red twill fabric. The zig zags on central panel/flap are applique.

Motifs and Patterns

Strap: same design on both sides, made symmetrical by reversing direction at the midpoint of the major zig zag motif that runs along it. Spaces between zigzag show leaf/half-pinwheel/star motif, with exception of the first design on the left bottom side. Middle panel (flap of pocket): simple zig-zag design along the edge in navy. Lower panel: large radiating diamond made of zig zags and stepped triangles with thunder and underwater themes. In the center of the diamond, bilateral symmetry on the vertical and horizontal. Pattern of four dots with ottertail, other related shapes. Geometric foliate designs on the sides of the diamond. Tabs: almost symmetrical, rectangles, chevrons, triangles.

Dimensions: 11.5 × 14.5 × 0 in
Condition: Fabrics in poor condition, overall fragile.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

AGG, CW, limited palate, loom-weaving.

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1953 102 0005
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1953
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Mrs. Charles Scudder
GKS Reference Number: 25215
Approximate Place of Origin

45.8, -83.9