Beaded Bag

ca. 1880

As northeastern tribes were forced onto reservations and their traditional lifestyles were threatened, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) women looked for new sources of income for their families. They took advantage of their skill in quillwork and beadwork, and began to make items such as purses, needle cases, pincushions, and watch fobs to sell to non-Native tourists who flocked to state fairs and other local tourist destinations. Haudenosaunee women sold their arts, which featured motifs of northeastern flora and fauna, directly to eager customers.