200120-75 Plateau Beaded Bag
Mid 20th Century
10.5" H x 8.5" W
Hand Crafted from Hide Leather and Glass Seed Beads with a Floral Motif Design and a Leather Strap Handle
In Very Good Condition
Collected by Robert Nemitz (1905-2005) Superintendent of Anacortes Oil Refineries. Born Iowa - moved to South Dakota near Sioux Reservation, then to Anacortes in 1937 and traveled a lot to Yakima and did the local flea markets
Plateau Beaded Bags are beautiful examples of traditional Native American artistry from the Columbia River Plateau region, which includes areas in present-day Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. They are primarily associated with tribes such as the Nez Perce, Yakama (Yakima), and other Plateau peoples.
These bags emerged in the 19th century after European traders introduced colorful glass beads (often called "seed beads") to the area. Native women adapted beading techniques, initially incorporating them into clothing and accessories. By the mid-to-late 1800s, fully beaded flat bags became prominent, often using a distinctive contour beading style where stitches radiate outward from a central point in circular or elliptical patterns. This created vibrant, shimmering designs that evolved from earlier basketry traditions.