Bag (Purse or bag)

Description

This small Haudenosaunee-made purse is constructed from dark blue fulled wool embellished with red plain-woven wool edging along the outer rim of the main body of the bag and an elaborate beaded design on both sides. There are faux flaps on both sides that extend from the rim of the bag opening half-way down each side. Both the flap and the main body of the bag are decorated with elaborate, slightly raised floral patterns worked in polychrome, transparent and opaque glass beads. In addition a double row of beads outline the edges of both flaps and bag sides. A row of alternating beads edges each of the flaps. The bag is in lined in dark blue silk that extends up and over the lip of the bag, where it is tacked down with white thread (which may be a later stabilization). Partial twill-woven strings that most likely formed part of a handle extend on each side of the opening. This purse is typical of the examples created by Haudenosaunee Indigenous artists in the middle of the nineteenth century for sale to tourists, especially those who visited Niagara Falls. These popular accessories often appear in early photographic portraits of children and young women.