Sioux Beaded Bags. Most of Sioux beadwork bags is carried out using lazy stitch. Before the use of glass beads, the Sioux used porcupine quills to decorate clothing, including bags. They were dyed using vegetable dyes until around 1880 when aniline dyes were traded.
Most beadwork was geometrical although some pictorial beadwork can also be found as found in some of the tobacco bags shown below.
Below are some examples and price guides of Sioux beaded bags including a pictorial beaded tobacco bag and a Sioux quilled and fringed hide bag.
A SIOUX PICTORIAL BEADED TOBACCO BAG Very finely beaded, depicting a distinctive warrior on horseback, on one side engaged in combat, on the other confronting three women, pairs of American flags rising above the panels, cross and box motifs up the neck, quill-wrapped slats at the bottom, the fringe now lacking.
Sold for US$ 10,700 (£ 8,224) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2020
Beaded Hide Bag Eastern Sioux, North America
Sold for EUR 312 at Christie’s in 2016
Sioux Beaded Hide Bag With multicolored beadwork in a geometric pattern with metal and cloth dangles, mounted in a shadow box
Sold for $5,000 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2007
Sioux Elk Dreamer Society Beaded Hide Tobacco Bag, sinew-sewn and beaded in colors of navy blue, light green, candy apple red white-heart, pink red white-heart, greasy blue, greasy yellow, translucent red, light pink, faceted brass, light blue, black, and white; one side of the bag depicts a warrior dressed in a feathered bonnet with staff, a horse and rider, and two pipes; the opposite depicts two pipes, a brightly colored, spotted elk with “power lines”, and the Elk Dancer with hoop and staff, overall length 35.5 in. fourth quarter 19th century
Sold for $105,000 at Cowan’s Auctions in 2020
Tipi bag ca. 1890 Lakota/ Teton Sioux, Native American
This bag was made during the early reservation period, after the United States government outlawed the Lakota’s annual Sundance and instituted Fourth of July celebrations in its place. During this time, the American flag and interpretations of the Great Seal of the United States became popular beadwork motifs. The artist may have made the container as a special gift. Earlier, in nomadic times, this same type of object transported belongings from one camp to the next and also ornamented the inside of the tipi.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Sioux Quilled and Fringed Hide Pouch, Central Plains hide, porcupine quillwork, dentalium shell, dyed chicken feathers. 10 in. with fringe
Sold for 2,250 USD at Sotheby’s in 2015
