Plateau Beaded Bags. Although some knowledge of traditional arts have been lost as times change, practicing the fine skills are still an important part of their way of life. Mothers and grandmothers decorate their children’s outfits for celebration and dancing. Beaded items, such as drums, woven bags and other crafts are used in traditional celebrations and special occasions. Such regalia is used for days during the Spirit Dance, which occurred once a year. Reference: Wikipedia
Below are some examples and price guides of Plateau beaded bags including a pictorial beaded hand bag and a contour beaded hide bag.
A Plateau beaded bag On buffalo hide with cloth-lined interior, decorated on the front with a three-blossom floral motif. length 11in, width 9 1/2in
Sold for US$ 1,500 at Bonhams
A PLATEAU PICTORIAL BEADED HAND BAG of rectangular shape, stitched in numerous shades of opaque and translucent beads, decorated with the profile of a man wearing an eagle feather bonnet, lined with printed cotton cloth, fringe along bottom edge, hide handles Length: 15¼ in. (38.7 cm.)
Sold for USD 2,350 at Christie’s in 2001
Plateau Contour Beaded Hide Bag, with Horse Tracks thread-sewn; designed with orange, black, and Charlotte-cut cobalt horse tracks against a light blue ground; backed with patterned cotton, length 7.5 in. x width 6.5 in. late 19th century
Sold for $800 at Cowan’s Auctions Cowan’s Auctions in 2020
