mixed-media, textile
mixed-media
textile
pattern background
wearable design
textile design
decorative-art
decorative art
indigenous-americas
Dimensions 8 3/8 x 6 3/8 x 5/8 in. (21.27 x 16.19 x 1.59 cm) (without dangles or hanger)
This beaded picture frame was made by the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois, people. I'm thinking about the time it must have taken to sew all those tiny beads onto the pink fabric. I'm wondering if the maker chose the colors or followed a pattern. The warm hues of gold, green, and pink speak to the earth and evoke feelings of comfort. The flowers add a touch of beauty and delicacy. I wonder if the sewer enjoyed the task? Did they chat with friends while they sewed, or did they work in solitude? The beads are small, but together they create something intricate and beautiful. The surface is rich with texture. It reminds me of the tactile nature of paint and the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands. This piece invites us to pause and consider the beauty of simple materials transformed through artistry.
Comments
As photography became more accessible in the late 1800's, picture frame whimsies became desirable items of home décor. Often beaded with three-dimensional flowers and other motifs, picture frames illustrate the broad pallet artists employed to make these pieces. They fashioned patterns for designs and passed their templates along to younger artists in the family. Younger women and girls first learned how to bead the looped fringe and would later bead entire whimsies. By creating them in this way, Iroquois women insured the survival and growth of their artistic traditions.
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