Tobacco Bag Item Number: 87.88.5 from the Portland Art Museum
Description
In addition to being useful containers, tobacco bags were worn as clothing accessories by Plains Indian men. They were carried in the hand, with the body of the bag and the fringe allowed to hang freely. These bags were made from tanned leather, cut and sewn into a rectangular shape with an opening at the top. The decoration, either beaded or quilled, is usually made up of a rectangular or square panel at the bottom of the bag, with additional beadwork in strips or as accents extending up the sides and around the top. The designs frequently differ from one side to the other.
Collection History Provenance
The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection. Collected: Elizabeth Cole Butler
Item History
- Made by Lakota artist during 1895
What
- Name
- Tobacco Bag
- Identification Number
- 87.88.5
- Type of Item
- tobacco bag
- Material
- leather, porcupine quill, glass bead, paint, metal and dyed horsehair
- Overall
- height 36.0 in, width 6.0 in
Who
- Culture
- Lakota
- Creator
- Lakota artist
Where
- Holding Institution
- Portland Art Museum
- Made in
- “Plains” ?
When
- Creation Date
- during 1895
Other
- Categories
- Plains; Bags and Pouches