Paint Pouch

Colorful beadwork designs were common in the work of female Plains artists, and many groups used distinct stitches and color combinations. Cheyenne artists particularly favored triangular designs created with dark blue, yellow, or red on a white background. Beadwork was incorporated into many objects of daily life. Pouches and cradles were some of the most finely beaded objects created by Plains Indian women. The pouch here would have hung from a woman’s belt as a container for face paint, the beadwork a testament to the importance of art in daily life. Miniature beaded cradles were made as toys for young girls to learn and mimic childcare. They were often made by a female relative and were as intricately beaded as full-size cradles.