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Purse

Textile MakerProbably made by Mohawk People Native American

Textile MakerProbably made by Iroquois People Native American

Dateabout 1825-1875

MediumHand-stitched cotton, glass beads, silk, paper, and a mother-of-pearl button

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 4 x 4 3/4in. (10.2 x 12.1cm)

Credit LineGift of Miss L. E. Reggio

DescriptionPurse of brown velvet with a rounded bottom edge and a flap which buttons over the opening. The velvet is worked with clear and white beads in a leaf design over paper templates (no templates are used on the flap) on the front. A more elaborate design of leaves is worked on the back. The beads are worked very closely and stitched down at lengths shorter than the strung beads, so that they curve up and give added dimension to the design. Blue beads are also used in the leaves on the back of the purse. One row of white and two rows of dark green beads outline the edges of the purse. The edges are bound with pink silk ribbon. The purse is lined with twill-woven cotton, which has been stiffened (possibly with hide glue). The purse is interlined with paper.

Object number1959.108.6

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