Storage Bag
Lakota (Sioux), South Dakota
During the late 1800s to early 1900s, after the Plains tribes had been confined to reservations, an ironic flowering of tribal arts occurred. Porcupine quillwork, which preceded beadwork, continued to be used sometimes in combination with glass beads, fabric, tin cones, or other trade materials. At this time, women also began to illustrate men's war deeds through pictographic beading and quillwork, such as the design on this bag of a warrior counting coup.
Counting coups referred to the war deeds performed by warriors, with the actual touching of an enemy with an object or bare hand without killing him recognized as the most dangerous and honorable deed. War honors were remembered and continued to be significant to the Lakota and others confined to reservations as seen in the frequent imagery of warriors and battle scenes in Plains Indian art.
ca. 1890, cowhide, porcupine quills, glass beads,tin cones, horsehair.
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Chandler-Pohrt Collection, acc. NA.106.245.
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