Match safe whimsey 1909

This beaded match safe whimsey was made around 1909 by an unknown Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) artist. The palette is warm; ochre and gold coloured beads, stitched onto a pale fabric that’s almost suede-like. There's something really intimate about this object; the beading is so intricate, you can imagine the artist carefully sewing each one to create these flowing designs. The texture is amazing, each bead glints against the next, catching the light in a way that's both subtle and captivating. The patterns look like stylized leaves, and there’s ‘1909’ picked out in delicate golden beads. I love the way the shapes are made up of smaller forms, like a fractal that keeps on giving as you zoom in with your eye. It reminds me of Gee’s Bend Quilts, these everyday crafted objects that transcend their function and become something deeply moving and expressive. There’s a narrative in the making, a story told through the careful placement of each bead; a conversation across time.