Toward the end of the 19th century, cotton replaced Indian hemp as the primary foundation material in most Columbia River twined bags. This handbag has a cotton twine foundation, a false embroidery surface of natural cornhusk and synthetically dyed…
A floral arrangement picked out in red, orange, and brown beads against a blue background adorns the front of this meticulously crafted bag. Its leather trim and velvet back further enhance its luxurious appeal.
Twined belts with fold-over purses are typically worn by women as part of their fancy dress regalia. This example is beautifully embroidered with floral and foliate designs whose intricacy is reminiscent of needlepoint.
Although horses and flowers are common motifs on beaded bags, this intricate design depicting a Palamino and an Appaloosa trotting beneath a canopy of rose blossoms is exceptionally fine. The bag features several different types of beads and beading…
Pink, bronze, cranberry and white beads create a geometric design that is quite similar to those found on some 19th-century twined bags. Elaborate beaded bags of this type were frequently passed down within families from generation to generation as…
Wedding trade. The women's family traded dried roots in root bags and dried berries in berry baskets. Alalimteeyik, grandmother of Mr. Moses Thomas. Courtesy, Rev. H. L. Sugden, Lapwai, Idaho, c. 1900.