Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Bandolier Bag
Joe Baker American, Lenape/Delaware
Not on view
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.
