Sioux Fully Beaded Purse

ca. 1890

7″ H + 5″ Handles x 12″ W when Laying Flat

Hand Crafted from Hide Leather with Glass Seed Bead Geometric Designs with 2 Handles and Red Ribbon Dangles on each Side

In Very Good Condition

Sioux fully beaded purses (often associated with the Lakota, Dakota, or broader Sioux peoples of the Great Plains) are exquisite examples of traditional Native American beadwork. These items showcase intricate glass seed beaddesigns, typically in vibrant geometric patterns, using colors like red, blue, green, yellow, and white on a background of white or other fields. They were crafted primarily by women using techniques like lazy stichor lane stitch beadwork on hide (such as buckskin or leather) bases.Historically, beadwork became prominent among the Sioux in the mid-19th century after European trade introduced glass beads (replacing earlier quillwork or shell beads). Many purses or handbags from the late 1800s (ca. 18801900) reflect the early reservation period, blending traditional motifs with influences from Euro-American stylessuch as framed or handled designs adapted for personal use or even tourist/souvenir trade.