A large Nez Perce cornhusk bag

A flat-twined "cornhusk bag" from the Columbia Plateau area, probably Nez Perce, but similar bags were also made by other peoples of the region, such as the Bannock, Chelan, Yakama, Wishram, Cayuse, and the Umatilla.
 
These seamless bags were woven without the use of a loom, and required keeping not only the warp and weft under tension, but also the corn husk decoration which is twisted arround the weft. A typical feature of these bags is the differing designs on the front and reverse, with one side typically featuring less complex, simple repetitive geometric shapes. As these designs are improvised during the weaving process, this means that each bag is unique.
 
This example is in great condition with no loose strands and only some slight fraying to the inside of the rim. The colours in the decorative patterns are still vibrant, and there are only are two small areas of discolouration which can be seen in the photos. It comes with its original tag from "Indian Trader West", Santa Fe, New Mexico.
 
Originally made to store food, in the course of the twentieth century cornhusk bags were increasingly made for use as handbags and for sale to tourists and art galleries. The drawstring closure, muted colours, and simpler designs on this example suggests that it is an earlier example, probably circa 1900.
 
44 x 33 cm
Late 19th - early 20th century