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Octopus bag

Titles: Octopus bag (Supplied title)

Description: An octopus bag, possibly Metis but used by the Dakota, circa the mid-19th century. It has red stroud wool facing on both sides, sewn with complementary bilaterally symmetrical floral designs in tiny seed beads on either face, terminating in eight hanging tabs that are trimmed in blue silk and backed in muslin, each with blue and clear “Russian blue” faceted beads at the ends that stop in tiny wool pompoms. One face of the bag has an ornament hanging from it which consists of a leather thong wrapped with porcupine quills from which hangs an eagle bone whistle that is also entirely wrapped in colored porcupine quills. A second, more modern looking whistle crafted from light colored wood and wrapped in faux polyester “sinew” is also present, but not attached - rather, it looks like something that may have gotten caught on the porcupine quillwork on the bag.

Dates

  • Not earlier than 1856 (Date bag was given to J. H. Charles.) (Creation)

Creation

Identifiers

  • Accession Number: 2398

Restrictions

  • Through curatorial review and/or additional consultation with American Indian elders, spiritual leaders, tribal officers or lineal descendants, this item has been determined to be culturally sensitive. As advised by the Minnesota Historical Society Indian Advisory Committee on April 20, 2012, the Minnesota Historical Society will not display images of culturally sensitive items on the public database.

Credit: Minnesota Historical Society Collections, Gift of the Sibley House Association of the Minnesota Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Holding Type: 3D Objects

Quantity: 1 item

Format

  • Content Category: artifacts

Measurements

  • 21 inches length
  • 8 inches width

Subjects

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