Beadwork

Beadwork

Beadwork

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Introduction

Black velveteen purse with raided beadwork on front and back. Beaded handle and beaded fringe at bottom of the purse, which is decorated with floral and animal motifs and the year "1909" beaded on front flap. Attributed at Tuscarora from Niagara Falls, New York. Bequest of Dr. William R. Wright (d. 1993), 1995.

Nation of Maker: Tuscarora
Nation of Origin

catalog data

Place of Origin: Niagara Falls, NY
Date Made or Date Range: 1909
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

catalog record

Materials

navy velvet, thread, glass beads, cardboard, red polished cotton

Techniques or Format

Purse made of two pieces of navy velvet, the back piece is longer in the front and folds over to create a front flap. Lined with red polished cotton, with cardboard in between, feels stiff. Hook and eye closure. Handle made with two strings of beads. Made of two pieces of velvet, 1909 and zoomorphic figure (pig) on front flap, Flowers on bottom of bag front. Zoomorphic figure (bear) on back. Raised beadwork. Beads applied in rope stitch at seams. Paper templates visible beneath beadwork. Looped strings of beads as fringe.

Motifs and Patterns

Flowers, zoomorphic figures (pig and bear), "1909"

Dimensions: 14.9 × 14.7 × 1.7 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

date beaded on front of flap

Current Location: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 995-29-10/73433
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: before 1993
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: 45110
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

43.0962, -79.0377

Source of Information about Places

Attributed to Tuscarora artist at Niagara Falls, New York (catalog data)

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