chatelaine bag

chatelaine bag

chatelaine bag

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Introduction

This Hodenosaunee beaded chatelaine bag likely dates to the Victorian era (1837-1901). It was donated to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology by Marshall Joseph Becker in 1991 where it currently resides. 

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

The catalogue card states it is "Iroquois." Stylistic features: this type of beaded Chatelaine bag was often made by the Hodenosaunee as souvenir art, to sell to Victorian women. In 2000, D.G. Harding suggested this bag is Euro-American, not Hodenosaunee (see catalogue card).

Date Made or Date Range: 1837-1901
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Object catalogue card.

Materials

cream cotton fabric; cardboard; red cotton fabric; red ribbon; blue ribbon; cream ribbon; braided thread edging; natural thread; size 10 beads in clear, translucent green, translucent red, translucent mustard, opaque rose, opaque light and medium blue; tubular beads, frosted and grey.

Techniques or Format

This beaded bag is edged in red ribbon, with blue ribbon around the flaps and cream ribbon around the top. There is looped fringe of clear beads attached to the bottom. The beadwork is slightly raised.

Motifs and Patterns

The floral beadwork in the centre of both sides is edged with a border of frosted tubular beads flanked by two clear beads, and a line of braided thread.

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: 15.2 × 16 × 0 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The catalogue card for this item says it is from the Victorian era.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 91-22-1
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/317100
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: 797
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Chatelaine bag. GRASAC ID 797. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 91-22-1.

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 5th, 2024.

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