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bag, bandolier
bag, bandolier
bag, bandolier
This bandolier bag, dating from 1860-1890, is a square shaped bag presenting the colours of blue, yellow, white, pink, green, black, orange, and turquoise. This ancestor is backed by beige fabric and contains a wide navy blue shoulder strap. This ancestor presents a large X motif within an hourglass shaped thunderbird or animikiig, outlined in red commercial wool. The central X figure represents the breast and tail of the thunderbird, and the spiky and jagged patterns represent the details of talons and lightning, or wassmo according to Curator David Penny. The top of the bag presents a floral motif, which was a representation of creativity and traditional knowledge and stories or aadizookaanag for Anishinaabe women according to Ruth Phillips. Thirteen beaded appendages are present and contain miniature thunderbirds on them, each ending in red and blue necklace beads and a red yarn tassel, which fringe the bottom of the bag. This ancestor is currently located within the Detroit Institute of Arts.
As stated by DIA exhibit text
Information on Motifs was taken from David Penney and Ruth Phillips in "Before and After the Horizons".
Read More About This Relative
Wool fabric and yarn, cotton fabric and thread, glass beads, metal buttons
Rectangular bag with wide shoulder strap made of navy blue wool (plain weave) and red wool commercial edging (oblique 2/2 interlacing). Panels of loom-woven beadwork (two strand weft twining, bead replace twist) are attached to shoulder strap and bag. Thirteen beaded appendages, each ending in red and blue necklace beads and a red yarn tassel, fringe the bottom of the bag. Bag and strap are backed by beige fabric. Red commercial edging borders the strap on both sides and extends down the sides of the bag to the bottom of the fringe.
Large "X" and crawfish motif in central panel; double outline leaf motifs on red stroud background in panel above pouch; T-birds and zigzags on loom-woven tabs; "X's," hourglasses and diamonds on straps (different each side). DIA description of motifs: At top of bag, on red band, are three floral embroidery motifs and two metal buttons. Two panels of loom-woven beadwork have complex geometric motifs on a white background. The panel on the bag is bordered by a narrow black stripe. The panel on the strap is bordered by two blue bands with a twisted yellow ribbon motif. Colors of beadwork: pink, blue, yellow, green, red, orange, white, black and turquoise.
Dimension of bag with lappets: 21 x 12.25 in.
Date is based on stylistic attributes and techniques according to Cory Wilmott; however, DIA lists it as 1885
Provenance
The Art of the Great Lakes Indians. Exh. cat., Flint Institute of Arts. Flint, MI, 1973, no. 225. Penney, David W. Art of the American Indian Frontier: The Chandler-Pohrt Collection. Seattle and London: The Detroit Institute of Arts and University of Washington Press, 1992, cat. no. 55. Before and After the Horizons.
About This GRASAC Record
Unknown Maker. "Bandolier Bag." GRASAC ID number 24425, located in the Detroit Institute of Arts, catalogue number 81.297.
Record was created by Cory Wilmott, and augmented by Natasha Fares in November 2023.
Good images are not yet available for this item, as it was on exhibit at the time of the GRASAC visit and not on the list of objects to discuss. Cory Wilmott created a GKS profile after the visit. A DIA Museum Catalogue System (TMS) photograph was later added by Kelly Konieczki as a temporary place-holder image. KK also added all available information about the item from TMS after the visit, however did not research its supplementary files.