Yakima Beaded Bag

Early 20th Century

11" H x 8.75" W 

Hand Crafted from Hide Leather with Glass Seed Beads of a Blue Jay Bird in a Heart with an Orange Background and Red Flower Early Work with Striking Design

In Very Good ConditioCollected by Robert Nemitz (1905-2005) Superintendent of Anacortes Oil Refineries. Born Iowa - moved to South Dakota near Sioux Reservation, then to Anacortes in 1937 and traveled a lot to Yakima and did the local flea markets

Yakima (or Yakama) beaded bags are beautiful examples of traditional Native American Plateau beadwork from the Yakama Nation, primarily in Washington State.

These bags, often flat or pouch-style, are handmade with glass seed beads sewn onto leather (like elk or deer hide), sometimes backed with wool or cotton lining. They feature intricate designs such as vibrant floral motifs, geometric patterns, animals (like elk or deer), rainbows, or symbolic elements. Beading became prominent after European contact introduced glass beads through trade, evolving from earlier cornhusk bag traditions in the region.