Bandolier Bag
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.Created by Lenape (Delaware) cultural leader and artist Joe Baker, this remarkable shoulder bag with a bold design and striking palette was intended as a personal tribute to a family member. Although the depiction of male and female cardinals is unique, the two-needle appliqué stitch, balanced bilateral beadwork, and abstract floral motifs are all distinctly Lenape. Produced over extended time periods, bags featuring these techniques require great patience and skill to complete and are often made for a specific wearer. Every stitch becomes a diary, a material record of the maker’s thoughts and good intentions—in this way, the bag holds memories and stories, carrying them into the wider world.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bandolier Bag
- Artist: Joe Baker (Lenape/Delaware, 1946)
- Date: 1997
- Culture: Lenape/Delaware, Native American
- Medium: Linen, satin, glass beads, wool, cotton thread
- Dimensions: 34 1/2 × 21 × 3/4 in. (87.6 × 53.3 × 1.9 cm)
- Credit Line: Mashantucket Pequot Museum
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing