bag panel, beaded

bag panel, beaded

bag panel, beaded

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Introduction

This beaded panel comes from a small Hodenosaunee bag. It was probably made between 1840 and 1860. In 1991, Marshall Joseph Becker donated it to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology where it currently resides. 

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

The style of beadwork is Hodenosaunee.

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

Information from the catalogue card.

Materials

dark brown velvet; paper; sizes 10 or 12 beads - clear, translucent red, opaque white, medium green, forest green, yellow, blue, and rose; beige thread.

Techniques or Format

This bag panel is made from a single piece of black velvet, decorated with beadwork applique. The underside is lined with paper, used to strengthen the piece. The central floral motif has been done with a raised beadwork technique.

Motifs and Patterns

A single floral motif in the centre is surrounded with multi-coloured sprays. The panel has a border made of rows of beads.

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: 11.2 × 12 × 0 cm
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: 91-22-29
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/342975
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1991
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Gift of Marshall Joseph Becker
Collection Narratives and Histories

This relative was given by Marshall Joseph Becker to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1991.

GKS Reference Number: 25014
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Bag panel, beaded. GRASAC ID 25014. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 91-22-29.

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 7th, 2024.

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