Micro beaded evening bag with courting couple
Posted inBags by Type

Evening Bags

Evening bags are small handbags made of rich fabric. They are often beaded or decorated with embroidery or other methods. Some can be novelty shaped, such as in the shapes…
Posted inBags by Type
1920s satin purse
Posted inGlossary

Satin Purses / Bags

Satin Purses / Bags. High quality satin is made of silk threads but it can also be made of nylon or polyester. It was a popular fabric during the Art…
Posted inGlossary
Hide beaded pipe bag
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Hide Bags

Hide Bags. Hide is treated animal skin and is the foundation for most Native American beadwork. The most common hides used are buffalo and deer. Below are some examples of…
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Beaded purse with coastal scene
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Pictorial Beaded Bags

Some of the most collectible bags and purses are pictorial beaded bags. These were made in both America and Europe and each had their own styles. European bags would often…
Posted inGlossary
A translucent red-bred brown, faintly striated,
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Translucent Beads

Translucent beads are those where the light goes through them. They have more of a sparkle than opaque, which often appear matt. Translucent beads allow background colors and threads to…
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Glass eye bead ca. 4th century B.C. Greek, Eastern Mediterranean
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Opaque Beads

Opaque beads are those where the light does not go through them. They appear solid and the background color will not show through except within the gaps between beads. Below…
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A SIOUX QUILLED AND BEADED PIPE BAG
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Quill Work

Quill work, in relation to bags and purses, is a form of textile embellishment traditionally practiced by Native Americans that employs the quills of porcupines as an aesthetic element. Quills…
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