Pouch Item Number: Cc3 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Pouch of stiff dark brown leather. Flat envelope-like pouch with high sides and dips in centre. Stitching along sides and has decoration doubled on centre of bag with yellow, blue, white, green beads at intervals, two on each side and two on bottom. Also stitching in u-shape with beads. Decorated only on one side. Stitching dyed red, now faded. Stitching loose, broken in one area on front side and back side. Handle is thin strip of leather. Bag does not open, leather is very stiff.

History Of Use

Used by women over shoulder or around neck in front, to keep personal possessions such as amulets, trinkets, needles and papers. Made and used by women to go to the market.

Cultural Context

Decoration; transportation.

Narrative

A bag of the 'olbene' type, but probably made for sale. Would normally be much larger and normally decorated with beads. The colour combinations of the beads used are in a Maasai style.