Beadwork

Beadwork

Beadwork

top image
Introduction

Haudenosaunee style beaded Chatelaine bag, purchased in May 1928 by Foster Saville at Marblehead, Massachusetts, for Haffenreffer collection. Front and back have same beaded floral motif. Possibly late 19th- early 20th century (W.C.). Item also purchased with object IDs 1/1 and 1/3.

Date Made or Date Range: 19th century-early 20th century?
Materials

black velveteen (cotton or wool), red silk ribbon, red polished cotton.

Techniques or Format

Bag made of beaded black velveteen lined with red polished cotton and bound at the seams with red silk ribbon. The bag opens at the top, and the flaps on the front and back are decorative. Red silk handle is sewn to the outside edge of the bag opening. Paper is lined between the velveteen and cotton to give a stiffness to the panels, paper is visible beneath damaged ribbon. Looped strings of beads in shades of red and blue form a fringe at the bottom.

Motifs and Patterns

Design is same on the front and back. Feathers or leaves, beadwork is slightly raised.

Description of Writing/Text

Tag attached reads: "Mani"

Dimensions: 13.3 × 12.5 × 0 cm
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1/2
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1928
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: From record: "Foster Saville purchase of three Penobscot beaded bags," May 1928
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: May 1928
Previous Collectors: Rudolf F. Haffenreffer
Collection Narratives and Histories

Maker and origin unknown. Purchased at Marblehead, Massachusetts, by Foster Saville for Haffenreffer collection in May 1928.

GKS Reference Number: 45164
Record Creation Context

Visit to Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University (Bristol, RI) of Wahsontiio Cross and Alexandra Nahwegahbow, assisted by Robert Preucel and Kevin Smith on 13 August 2015.