White/Indian Bag

I would like this bag to represent a blending of different cultures. There were individuals on the frontier who were just as comfortable in the cities as they were in the native villages and a token from each world could show status / position / authority. Perhaps too, nothing more than the willingness to accept and be a part or member. Here was the exchange of materials and design. There are seven known artists represented here and two unknown.

This bag was made by Brad Mills from vegetable tanned Deer hide, lined with a course linen. The Horn a old original picked up at a Flea Market.

The Horn has been engraved lightly by Kathy Sibley. The designs are Native....a mix of castellated motifs, elongated triangles, plus small crosshatched areas.

There was a button at one time to hold the flap closed. It has since been exchanged with a religious medal. The medal was made by Ward Oles. I would invite you to visit his website, "At The Eastern Door" where you can learn the meaning of this particular medal and view his period correct and other fine offerings.

Two fingerwoven straps. The red bodied example was woven by Tom Conde. His also incorporates two resist dye areas, a early decorative technique. Tim Connin, (the other) wove the red and blue example......(I had to pull some strings to acquire this). One can see how a selvage edge, (if there were two) would be interlocked to the body color. Where this one, (based on a original) enlarges a single selvage to create a unique example.

Horn tip powder measure attached by a piece of twisted silk ribbon. Wish I could say who made the measurer. I picked it up so long ago, I've forgotten who made it. Perhaps it was Mr. Hayes ? If you recognize your work....please let me know.

A single stand of genuine Wampum. This is modern made and is sold by the Six Nations in Canada.

Used in the background in all of these photos is a piece of braintan Antelope hide. My friend Manfred Weiss tanned it. What makes that unique is Manfred came all the way from Austria to tan the hides here in Ohio. Recently Manfred spent time in India teaching braintan techniques to some tanners there.

My contribution to all of this is having the good fortune to have been able to assemble this fine work from the varied sources. My Thanks goes to each and every artist. Keep up the Good Work !!! T.C.

Photos by Tom Connin.