Beadwork

Beadwork

Beadwork

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Introduction

Small boxy handbag "whimsy," attributed as Mohawk. Made before 1910 (date "1910" beaded on back). Bequest to museum from Dr. William R. Wright, 1995.

Nation of Maker: Mohawk
Materials

Glass seed beads and tubular beads; thread; cotton and polished cotton; cardboard

Techniques or Format

Miniature purse with rounded bottom. Cardboard covered with possibly cotton fabric. Body of bag appears to be lined with same cotton fabric, lid is lined with red polished cotton. Looped beaded fringe on the bottom of the bag. Handle is two strings of beads twisted around each other. Bag is beaded in rope stitch along the seams.

Motifs and Patterns

In beadwork on front: Chevron design, sequin accents with tubular beads. In beadwork on lid: "BOX". In beadwork on back: "1910". Single floral or starburst motif on each side of the bag.

Dimensions: 14.3 × 10 × 8.5 cm
Condition: fair
Current Location: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 995-29-10/73428
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1995
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Bequest of Dr. William R. Wright (d. 1993), 1995.
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1910
Previous Collectors: William R. Wright
Collection Narratives and Histories

Bequest to the museum in 1995. William Wright left his estate to Harvard University, his Alma Mater, after his death in 1993. The Peabody Museum received the collection in 1995.

GKS Reference Number: 45106
Record Creation Context

Visit to Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) of Wahsontiio Cross and Alexandra Nahwegahbow, assisted by Meredith Vasta on 11-12 August 2015.

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

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