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- 221003-01 Delaware Bandolier Bag
221003-01 Delaware Bandolier Bag
Price on Request
Mid 19th century; Approx 36" incl. fringe x 11.25" bag face width.
In Excellent Condition.
A bandolier bag is a Native American shoulder pouch, often beaded. Early examples were made from pelts, twined fabrics, or hide, but beginning in the fur trade era, Native American women across sewed these bags with imported wool broadcloth, lined with cotton calico, and often edged with silk ribbons.
The bags are named for bandoliers or the cloths carrying gunpowder that soldiers wore from the 16th to early 20th centuries. They are also called shot pouches or simply shoulder bags.
In Ojibwemowin, or the Ojibwe language, bandolier bags are called gashkibidaagan. The Ojibwe name comes from the word parts, gashk-, meaning "enclosed, attached together" and -bid, "tie it."
The English word bandolier comes from the French word bandouliere meaning "shoulder belt" and traces back to the Spanish bandoera the diminutive of banda or "sash."
Delaware women, forced west onto the prairies as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, are credited with creating a new style of appliqué beadwork. Known as the “Prairie style,” it drew on the northern and southern beadwork traditions of the Woodlands. An early example of Prairie style beadwork style is seen in this shoulder bag. It is decorated with glass seed-bead embroidery and trimmed with cloth ribbon. The pouch itself is composed rounded Berry Motif which is carried into the round tassel fringe. In remarkable condition; shows wear stains on the cloth lining. The shoulder strap displays a beautiful contour leaf pattern.