Cotton, beads, sequins, stuffing, cotton thread, paper.

Pincushion made by sewing white cotton cloth over stuffing, Bottom panel is of polished red cotton, Front panel is a bright pink cotton cloth, Inner border of cushion edged with narrow strip of doubled over dark blue cotton cloth, Cushion is lavishly beaded with the couched stitch: (1) large rosette of crystal beads with crystal/translucent yellow beaded centre, purple lined tube bead accents stem, single crystal bead sewn into centre of gold coloured sequin placed in between each petal, (2) pink panel bordered along sides with (a) diagonal running loops of primarily crystal beads - three rows of opaque medium blue beads occur on either side near pointed base, (b) four leaves have been beaded across top edge following shape of cushion - purple lined tube beads used in stem and leaves alternate in colour in translucent blue/crystal, translucent yellow/crystal, translucent red/crystal, and translucent green/crystal, (c) whole outer circumference is edged with two horizontal rows of crystal beads, (3) along outer circumference of blue cloth border of cushion, edging consists of couched crystal beads placed diagonally in rows of three, to this edging, four sets of three loops of beads and one set of four loops (at centre tip) have been added from left to right, Beaded colour sequence in suspended loops are: crystal/green and blue lined tube beads, crystal/red lined tube beads, crystal/green and silver lined tube beads, crystal/red lined tube beads, and crystal and light and dark blue lined tube beads, String for hanging cushion to wall consists of single row of narrow, clear tube beads, Paper backing for bead work intact.

beaded rosette and leaves

Example of range of souvenir art work produced in Great Lakes area, particularly by the Tuscarora who settled around Niagara Falls; The most prolific period of production was 1890-1910; Victorian style "raised" beadwork (couched stitch) was typically used to lavishly decorate a variety of objects - pin cushions, photo frames, trinket boxes, and whimsies constructed in numerous shapes: rosettes, squares, rectangles, hearts and high-heeled tasseled boots.

Edging faded; tear in front panel; bead deterioration; sequin discolouration; gum from label on back panel; soiled from use

Examples of tourist art and "couched beadwork" technique

from catalogue records

Manitoba Museum