Bag c. 1900

This bag was made at an unknown date by an unknown Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) artist. It is decorated with beadwork. The bag has floral designs which provide insights into the social and cultural exchanges of the time. This bag and similar pieces were produced at a time of significant interaction between Indigenous communities and European settlers. The floral motifs, rendered in colorful glass beads acquired through trade, reflect both the Haudenosaunee’s adaptation to new materials and their creative expression within a changing world. The bag's function would have also shifted within this world. The very act of studying an object like this bag is an act of interpretation. We can look to historical records, such as trade documents, missionary accounts, and anthropological studies, to better understand the social context. We can analyze the visual vocabulary of the Haudenosaunee at the time. By doing so, the bag becomes a rich source of meaning, reflecting the resilience, adaptation, and artistic innovation of the Haudenosaunee people.