Tobacco bag with pipe-stem case

The narrow sleeve on this tobacco bag held a pipe’s wood stem. A woman embellished it with stylized feathers and a wavy line of beadwork, perhaps to suggest the pipe’s role in transmitting sacred smoke and prayer. A single Thunderbird, a powerful spirt, is represented near the opening; hourglass motifs—common in Plains painting, quillwork, and bead-embroidered designs—are featured on the body; and a finely twisted, two-ply fringe hangs from the bottom.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tobacco bag with pipe-stem case
  • Date: ca. 1870
  • Geography: Made in Wyoming, United States
  • Culture: Northern Cheyenne, Native American
  • Medium: Tanned leather, glass beads, wool cloth, metal cones, and horsehair
  • Dimensions: 7 1/2 × 27 in. (19.1 × 68.6 cm)
  • Credit Line: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of Native American Art, Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 2018
  • Object Number: 2018.867.7
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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