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It is remarkable that this most elaborate style in woven beadwork is characteristic for the early period of these bags. This observation suggests that the style had already fully developed before it was adopted in the 1850s by the Southwestern Ojibwa and their neighbors. Both technique and art style indeed strongly resemble that of woven beadwork on panel-bags of the Red River Metis and northern Cree Indians, several examples of which are in the Thaw Collection. These Manitoba people began introducing such woven beadwork by 1800, if not earlier.
Once adopted by the Great Lakes Indians a range of distinct types developed, presumably distinguishing many of the reservation communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. (From the Catalog of the Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, 2nd ed.)
Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
"Floral Journey: Native North American Flower Beadwork," Autry National Center of the American West, Los Angeles, CA, February 18, 2014 - May 11, 2015.
ProvenanceToby Herbst, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BibliographyVincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.73.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d"Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions d'Art, 1999. p. 39.
Dubin, Lois. Floral Journey: Native North American Beadwork. Los Angeles: Autry National Center of the American West, 2014. p. 99. fig. 90.
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. 80.
Culture
Anishinaabe (Ojibwa)
Bandolier Bag
Datec. 1870
DimensionsOverall: 13 1/4 × 37 3/4 in. (33.7 × 95.9 cm)
Object numberT0020
Credit LineGift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextPanels of loom-woven beadwork cover the cotton shoulder strap and pocket of this bag. This pocket has been sewn to a velvet panel that extends above the pocket, creating the part that is decorated with floral designs in spot-stitch bead embroidery. In addition to this floral pattern this bag shows a second strip of floral designs in a separate panel along the upper rim of the pocket. (c.f. Anderson and Hussey-Arnston 1986 p.50, fig.6 & p.51, fig.7; Hodge 1973,p.45, fig.178; Wooley 1990, p.20, fig.H-96). This feature has been observed on a few other bandolier bags of the Minnesota Ojibwa.It is remarkable that this most elaborate style in woven beadwork is characteristic for the early period of these bags. This observation suggests that the style had already fully developed before it was adopted in the 1850s by the Southwestern Ojibwa and their neighbors. Both technique and art style indeed strongly resemble that of woven beadwork on panel-bags of the Red River Metis and northern Cree Indians, several examples of which are in the Thaw Collection. These Manitoba people began introducing such woven beadwork by 1800, if not earlier.
Once adopted by the Great Lakes Indians a range of distinct types developed, presumably distinguishing many of the reservation communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. (From the Catalog of the Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, 2nd ed.)
Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Treasures from the Thaw Collection," Wheelwright Museum of American Indian Art. Santa Fe, NM, May 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
"Floral Journey: Native North American Flower Beadwork," Autry National Center of the American West, Los Angeles, CA, February 18, 2014 - May 11, 2015.
ProvenanceToby Herbst, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BibliographyVincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, p.73.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d"Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions d'Art, 1999. p. 39.
Dubin, Lois. Floral Journey: Native North American Beadwork. Los Angeles: Autry National Center of the American West, 2014. p. 99. fig. 90.
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. 80.
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