Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Gawababiganikak. <em>Bandolier Bag</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Glass beads, cloth, silk, wool, 35 × 14 1/4 in. (88.9 × 36.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 30.1471. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1471_front_PS22.jpg)

Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Gawababiganikak. Bandolier Bag, late 19th–early 20th century. Glass beads, cloth, silk, wool, 35 × 14 1/4 in. (88.9 × 36.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 30.1471. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1471_front_PS22.jpg)

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Notice that the small squares of beading at the bottom. These were done on a loom and attached as "fringe" with the yarn tassels. The rest of the beading was sewn to a cloth backing.

Bandolier bags were worn across the body. They were popular with Woodlands/Great Lakes tribes in the 19th century. The shape of such bags is based upon 18th century ammunition cartridge bags carried by European soldiers!

Información en español por favor.

Esta se conoce como una bolsa de bandolera.

La forma de la bolsa está basada en las bolsas para munición del siglo XVIII, los cuales fueron llevados por soldados europeos.

Aunque utilizaron formas europeas y materiales de base de lana o algodón, los artistas nativos americanos utilizaron las superficies de tales bolsas como lienzos para diseños con significados indígenas.

Can you tell me about the glass beads on the Bandolier Bag?

The beads were trade beads, a valued commodity on the Great Plains in the 19th century. Bandolier bags with beads were produced from the latter half of the 19th century. Techniques of beadwork include loom-beading, which involves the use of a wooden loom and spot-stitching.

Would men wear these every day or for an occasion?

This Bandolier Bag was, in the past, a part of every-day wear for Anishinaabe (Ojibwa), Gawababiganikak or Naskapi men created and beaded by women. Today they are worn with ceremonial regalia, and sometimes worn by women.

Bandolier Bag

Arts of the Americas

On View: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, To Give Flowers

CULTURES Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Gawababiganikak or Naskapi

MEDIUM Glass beads, cloth, silk, wool

DATES late 19th–early 20th century

DIMENSIONS 35 × 14 1/4 in. (88.9 × 36.2 cm) mount (m1- including board and bonnet): 42 × 21 × 6 1/2 in. (106.7 × 53.3 × 16.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 30.1471

CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund

PROVENANCE Prior to 1903, provenance not yet documented; before 1903, reportedly acquired on the White Earth Reservation by Alfred Jensen of New York, NY; 1930, purchased from Alfred Jensen by the Brooklyn Museum.

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EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, To Give Flowers

CAPTION Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Gawababiganikak. Bandolier Bag, late 19th–early 20th century. Glass beads, cloth, silk, wool, 35 × 14 1/4 in. (88.9 × 36.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 30.1471. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1471_front_PS22.jpg)

IMAGE front, 30.1471_front_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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