This is one of two matching bags in a set. It is estimated that this pair of Sioux "possibles bags" was manufactured in the 1880s. They were eventually sold by the Fred Harvey Company. One of the bags has an original price tag of $55.00 attached. The material used to construct the bags is buffalo hide. The front panel and front flags of both bags are beaded in yellow, red, light blue, and dark blue glass seed beads, cotton thread sewn, lazy stitch. The patterns are geometric with a light blue background. There are yellow diamond patterns bordered in dark blue that encase smaller red bordered rectangles with the light blue background in the center. In addition, interspersed between three vertical rows of the diamond patterns are four rows of red crosses (2 crosses per row). In between the crosses are triangles in dark blue with two rows of yellow beads in the center. The side panels and front flap are beaded in striped rectangular patterns that alternate between light blue backgrounds and yellow backgrounds. These rectangles are separated by rows of vertical dark blue beads. The rectangles wth the light blue backgrounds have two red horizontal stripes. The rectangles with the yellow backgrounds have two dark blue horizontal stripes. Thong ties on the flaps attach to beaded loops with four bead trailers from the top of the beadwork pattern on the front panel. Metal cones with horsehair inserts hang from the tips of the thong trailers and adorn the side panels as well. Originally bags of soft skin were used for storing and transporting clothing and other small household articles. It is not known if these particular bags were ever used for that purpose or if they were produced to be sold.
"B7-A" hand written in black ink on interior portion of flap. On the right lower con