An Early Yakima Contour Beaded Buffalo Flat Bag

Yakima Tribe

Circa 1870 | Glass Beads, Buffalo hide | Item 2300

The four petalled flower has deep, blue beads radiating out from it in a contour pattern. The flower is layered with light blue, dark blue, black and red with white hearts. Floating on the lower right and left side are two small areas of red with white heart beads. They are beaded around the apex of the contour coming out from the flower. The buffalo hide is very thick. The seams have remnants of red stroud showing that the entire seam was likely covered in wool stroud cloth. The seams are sewn with heavy plied cordage. The beads are sewn onto the buffalo with sinew. There is a single, brass bell hanging from the hide attached at the top.