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Exhibition History"People of the River: Native Arts of the Oregon Territory," Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR, January 22, 2005 - May 30, 2005.
"As They Saw It: Women Artists Then & Now," Springfield Museums, Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA, October 14, 2023 - January 14, 2024; Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, April 1, 2024 - September 2, 2024.
ProvenanceRichard Pohrt Collection, Flint, Michigan; Morning Star Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BibliographySchlick, Mary D. and Kate C. Duncan. "Wasco-Style Woven Beadwork, Merging Artistic Traditions" American Indian Art Magazine. Vol.16, No.3, (Summer 1991): 37.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.302.
Mercer, Bill. People of the River: Native Arts of the Oregon Territory. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2005, pp. 127, 138-39, cat. no. 142.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 320.
Attributed to
Ellen Underwood (Taswatha)
(1849 - 1908, Wasco/Yakima)
Octopus Bag
Date1860-1880
DimensionsOverall (With fringe and handle): 6 3/8 × 18 3/4 in. (16.2 × 47.6 cm)
Overall (Not including fringe and handle): 6 3/8 × 14 3/4 in. (16.2 × 37.5 cm)
Object numberT0151
Credit LineGift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextThe design of Taswatha's octopus bag was influenced by similar bags used by Native peoples from the east coast. Instead of the usual four drops, Taswatha's bag features five drops but the length, proportion, and beaded fringes show where she looked for inspiration. The beaded geometric human figures and colorful zig-zag lines are all reflections of Wasco style, showing the adaptation of eastern and northwestern styles into a unique bag.Exhibition History"People of the River: Native Arts of the Oregon Territory," Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR, January 22, 2005 - May 30, 2005.
"As They Saw It: Women Artists Then & Now," Springfield Museums, Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA, October 14, 2023 - January 14, 2024; Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, April 1, 2024 - September 2, 2024.
ProvenanceRichard Pohrt Collection, Flint, Michigan; Morning Star Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BibliographySchlick, Mary D. and Kate C. Duncan. "Wasco-Style Woven Beadwork, Merging Artistic Traditions" American Indian Art Magazine. Vol.16, No.3, (Summer 1991): 37.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.302.
Mercer, Bill. People of the River: Native Arts of the Oregon Territory. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2005, pp. 127, 138-39, cat. no. 142.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 320.
On View
Not on view
c. 1820-1840
