Posted 9 years ago
clpitts
(49 items)
This pouch measures approx 8 1/4" in length, not including the beads dangling from the bottom. Because of the weight, I think the beads are glass. The backing is material. It has 2 pockets for something. I found one similiar on ebay and it was posted as Native American even though the design does not look Native American. Any information would be appreciated. Is it Native American? If not, what? What is its purpose with the 2 small pockets? I would also like to know the approx age of this piece or any sites where I can gain additional information.
Any chance it's this? http://www.rubylane.com/item/406471-HKx2e236D/Antique-Iroquois-Beaded-Match-Holder-c1900 A search for Iroquois Match Holder brings up several that look similar...
I keep thinking, "I've never seen that colour on Indian work". Hey, you experts. Is this a common colour for Indian work? Blue always seemed to be prominent in my experience.
It's an Iroquois Vicorian "Whimsy." Like a lot of Native American crafts, this was made strictly for the tourist market. It therefore was made based on the idea of what would sell best, rather than on any tribal traditions.
Most were made from the 1880's to the 1930's, but there has been a continuous tradition of beadwork souvenir items in the area ever since.
Here's a good on line article about the craft: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/publications/record/vol_01/pdfs/CH04Elliott.pdf
That is exactly what it is. The non Native American pattern is what confused me. Thanks so much for the information and additional sites for education.
Blunderbuss2 said, "I keep thinking, "I've never seen that colour on Indian work". Hey, you experts. Is this a common colour for Indian work? Blue always seemed to be prominent in my experience."
I want to say up front that beadwork is not my area of expertise, to be honest here :)
However, I have seen many of these match holder whimseys on sites online sites that sell Native American items. And the color blue is a color used alot with these whimseys, no matter if it was a large pillow whimsey or a small purse or a match holder. I have never seen the kind of design that clpitts's match whimsey has, but I think that makes it more collectable. I have one of these match holder whimseys up on this website in my items, and it has a pattern that I have seen on many other match holder whimseys. As to the color, my whimsey also has blue beads used in the design, but mine are more of a pastel blue and not the "wow" factor that this whimsey has. Usually as far as colors, you usually see the same clear and white beads used mostly for these whimseys, with another color or two like blue and brown and yellow like my match holder whimsey that I have up here has. To be honest, I wish mine had the brilliant blue that this whimsey has