So-called "octopus bag"; blue trade felt with floral style beadwork on front; 8 elongated appendages (4 front and 4 behind); lined with tan plainweave cloth; pendant tassels of red and blue beads and red/green/black cotton cordage.
Donor:
Alaska Commercial Company, Benjamin Bristol, and Older University Collections
Collection place:
Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska
Culture or time period:
Northern Athapaskan tribes
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
unknown
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Pouches
Function:
5.5 Stimulants, Narcotics, and Accessories
Accession date:
1904
Context of use:
Probably produced by N. Athabaskans although highly prized (and found also among) the Tlingit. These bags are used as smoking bags.
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
not including tassels— length 44 centimeters
Comment:
Use reference: "The Athapaskans: Strangers of the North" (National Museum of Man, Ottawa), see #157 (color pl., p. 31 and text, p. 114). See also 2-2748, -5770, and -57887 for other examples. References: "The Far North, Henry B. Collins et al, #203-204 and see above.