The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum – Little Falls, MN, U.S.A.
BEAD: Beaded Purses & Bags
Aside from the 3 Ojibwe gashkibidaaganag (bandolier bags) in the Morrison County Historical Society collections, we seem to be overflowing with beaded purses and bags. Beads are a relatively inexpensive way to give purses and bags a look of elegance, sophistication, and unique design.
Here are some beaded purses and bags from the collections, as well as a couple on loan to MCHS for the BEAD Exhibit
Case of beaded purses for BEAD Exhibit at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum, Little Falls, MN, 2020.
Coin Purse
Coin Purse: Round beaded coin purse with beaded strap (first side featuring 4-petaled flower), donated by Viola & Frances Landmeier in 1970. MCHS collections, #1970.22.14.Coin Purse: Round beaded coin purse with beaded strap (second side featuring multi-colored seed beads in random pattern), donated by Viola & Frances Landmeier in 1970. MCHS collections, #1970.22.14.
Coin Purse
Coin Purse: Purse made by Shishone Bannock in Fort Hall, Indiana, presented by The Church of The Four Winds in Portland, Oregon, to Cindy Moore, who grew up in Morrison County, Minnesota. Cindy served as the music director for the church, which is an inter-tribal inter-denominational Native American church. Purse received in 1996. MCHS collections, #2007.4.1.
Clutch Purse
Clutch Purse: Cream-colored satin clutch purse with turquoise, gold, and imitation pearl beads. Donated by Mrs. Vernon Johnson. MCHS collections, #1973.20.1a.
Evening Handbag
Evening Handbag: Victorian-era evening handbag beaded in black, red, orange, yellow, and green seed beads. There is a mirror on the inside in the bottom of this handbag. Unknown donor. MCHS collections, no accession number.Closeup of evening handbag’s metal clasp. MCHS collections, no accession number.
Evening Handbag
Evening Handbag: Long black evening handbag fully beaded in purple iridescent beads. Donated by First United Church, Little Falls, MN. MCHS collections, #1985.24.18.Closeup of evening handbag showing the purple iridescent beads. MCHS collections, #1985.24.18.
Clutch Purse
Clutch Purse: White clutch purse with clear and white seed beads, imitation pearl beads, and 2 rhinestones. Donated by Lucy Tanner. MCHS collections, #1993.46.32.Detail of clutch purse. Note the transparent beads. MCHS collections, #1993.46.32.
Bronze Purse
Bronze Purse: Purse featuring bronze seed beads owned by Mrs. Isaac LaBeau. Donated by John & Marge Copa. MCHS collections, #1993.21.1.
Evening Handbag
Evening Handbag: Evening handbag fully beaded with loops of clear seed beeds. Unknown donor. MCHS collections, no accession number.
Native American Bags
Two Native American leather bags featuring seed bead designs. The bag on the left is from a Native tribe of unknown origin. The bag on the right is from the Blackfoot Nation. MCHS collections, #1984.14.1 and 1990.28.1.Beaded leather bag (front) from Native American tribe of unknown origin. Donated by Helen Ray. MCHS collections, #1984.14.1.Beaded leather bag (back) from Native American tribe of unknown origin. Donated by Helen Ray. MCHS collections, #1984.14.1.Blackfoot Bag (front): Beaded leather bag attributed to the Blackfoot Nation, c. 1890. This bag was brought to Minnesota by Earl E. Bundy, who worked with a group of Blackfoot Indians on a cattle ranch. He was 17 when he got this bag. Donated by Carol Holmquist. MCHS collections, #1990.28.1.Blackfoot Bag (back): Beaded leather bag attributed to the Blackfoot Nation, c. 1890. This bag was brought to Minnesota by Earl E. Bundy, who worked with a group of Blackfoot Indians on a cattle ranch. He was 17 when he got this bag. Donated by Carol Holmquist. MCHS collections, #1990.28.1.
Beaded Leather Bag Inspired by Ojibwe Beadwork
Beaded leather bag made by Sister Carol Schmit, OSF. Sr. Carol was inspired by Ojibwe floral motifs in creating this bag, which was made to hold precious elements like stones and sweet grass. The dark colors in the design are meant to indicate the many beauties of nature that are being lost. On loan for the BEAD Exhibit from Sr. Carol Schmit.Back of beaded leather bag made by Sister Carol Schmit, OSF. On loan for the BEAD Exhibit from Sr. Carol Schmit.Detail of beadwork on beaded leather bag made by Sister Carol Schmit, OSF. On loan for the BEAD Exhibit from Sr. Carol Schmit.Detail of beadwork on beaded leather bag made by Sister Carol Schmit, OSF. On loan for the BEAD Exhibit from Sr. Carol Schmit.
Baby Chartres Bag
Beaded bag with long cord for wearing around the neck. Made in the 1990s by Sister Carol Schmit, OSF, who uses this bag to carry her cell phone. The beaded labyrinth design was made on a loom and is patterned on the “Baby Chartres,” a shortened rendition of the famous design in the floor of the Cathedral in Chartres, France. The tiny crosses in the corners are of yellow, red, black, and white, indicating the four directions. On loan for the BEAD Exhibit by Sister Carol Schmit.Closeup of the Baby Chartres design in Sister Carol Schmit’s small beaded bag. Note the four colored crosses in the corners. On loan from Sister Carol Schmit, OSF.Detail of the Baby Chartres bag made by Sister Carol Schmit. On loan from Sister Carol Schmit, OSF.
