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 from bird feathers were also occasionally used in quill work. Reference: Wikipedia
Below are some examples, information and price guides of quill work bags and purses including a Northern Cheyenne quill work and beaded pipe bag and a Sioux quilled bag.
Northern Cheyenne quill-work and beaded pipe bag, probably Montana circa 1900-1930. White tanned bag with long fringe rising to a quilled red/yellow/purple geometric panel. Above is a white/green/blue/red beaded panel with geometrics and finally an applied beaded strip with geometrics. The top tied with feather cones.
Sold for $550 at Cordier Auctions & Appraisals in 2021
Shoulder bag ca. 1780 Anishinaabe, probably Ojibwa, Native American
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Lakota Beaded and Quilled Pipe Bag
Sold for 1,638 USD at Sotheby’s in 2021
A SIOUX QUILLED AND BEADED PIPE BAG Beaded along either side of the neck and mouth, the lower body quilled in white and yellow on a red ground, suspending quilled boning tied with lengthy fringe.
Sold for US$ 3,187 (£ 2,296) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2021
