Antique Sioux Indian Beaded Mirror Bag, probably 1880-1920

Description

Antique Sioux Indian Beaded Mirror Bag, probably 1880-1920
This sturdy and dramatically beaded mirror bag is likely a Sioux piece, possibly showing some design influence from Northern Plains groups such as the Blackfeet, Assiniboine or Gros Ventre.  It is beaded on a heavy weight linen sack cloth or canvas and was bound at the opening with a dark red wool trade cloth which is largely covered by a later leather binding.  The beads are strung on a heavy linen thread.  The bag is lined with polka dot cotton cloth which may have been added when the leather binding was applied.  The strong geometry of the beaded design is accentuated by a turquoise bead ground on one side and a white ground on the reverse.  The accompanying heavy Victorian cut scalloped edge mirror (5-3/4" tall x 3-3/4" wide) seems smaller in scale than the bag and is likely a collector's addition.  The bag's robust construction supports its use as a mirror bag.
Dimensions:  8-3/4" tall (12-1/2" including carrying strap), 6-1/2" wide
Condition:  Very good with 2 small areas of minor bead loss. The bead loss is in the turquoise ground of one side at the far upper right and the lower right corner.  The leather carrying strap and upper binding are probably old replacements.  A break in the leather binding exposes the original red trade cloth binding.