Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
2008.47.001
Accession#:
2008.47
Credit Line:
Purchase of this artwork has been made possible through the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation.
Object Name:
Bag
Title:
Ebb & Flow
Artist — Creator:
Hanes, Salty
Date:
July 2008
Description:
Black felt Octopus Bag with a 32 inch long black strap and eight tassels hanging from the front four "octopus' legs." Brightly colored beads form thirteen abstract shapes in the following colors:
Two shades of blue
Two shades of red
Two shades of orange
Green and yellow
The tassels are mostly black but also contain two strands of red and green. Tassels are attached to the "legs" by a gold, blue, and then gold bead. Small black beads also create a border around the entire bag.
Notes:
The blue beads on the tassels are Russian trade beads and are probably from Venice, Italy and date back to the 1850s.

Octopus bags are an item that have been historically constructed in this area by Tlingit women. The traditional of octopus bags was crafted from floral patterns introduced to the Sub—arctic Native Women during the Victorian era and traded west to the Athabascan and south to the Tlingit.

Beaded patterns are artist's representation of traditional seaweed designs.
People:
Hanes, Salty
Search Terms:
Art
Russia
Tlingit
Textile
Beading
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Octopus BagOctopus Bag