Ute, Possibly Crow, Tee Pee Beaded Hide Bag

Ute, or Crow, maybe even Shoshone or Nez Perce

1870 - 1880 | Hide, Glass Beads, Sinew | Item 2527

This is a beautiful and interesting tee pee bag, The designs on the front are unusual for these types of bags. One central, diamond is attached at all corners to elongated triangles, all with multiple colors. Two of the triangles are outlined in white beads, and two are outlined with red with white heart beads. The central diamond is bordered with red with white hearts. The top flap has sewn on over the bag a fine, banded design with triangles, mostly in blue, both light and dark containing pink rhomboids and yellow triangles. The two sides are done the same with five vertical bands interrupted with two blue 6 sided shapes.

The use of the pumpkin colored beads is indicative of Ute to some people. The outlining of the shapes can be a Crow design trait. One might go more general and call the bag Plateau which would include Nez Perce. The use of many colors and the mixing of tribal qualities can suggest also Shoshone, a close tie to the Utes. The bag was originally sold as Kiowa, which we feel it clearly is not. Whoever made it had a wonderful idea of mixing such colors and creating these clear, bounderied shapes. There’s much eye appeal here.