Dig It - 5/9/24
Hey Seekers, today we are going to look at a Flat Twined Plateau Bag, more commonly known as Cornhusk Bags. These bags have a hemp foundation, which you can see at the bottom of the bag. The hemp is then wrapped with corn husk in a false embroidery technique and, in this case, blue, red, grey and brown yarns. This bag is quite large, about 24” by 16”, and dates from the mid to late 19th century.
These big bags were used to collect and hold the roots of the camas lily, which grows in the lush valleys of the Plateau region. This was a major source of food in the region and allowed for large groups of Native Americans to gather and be fed. These gatherings were important for social cohesion, interaction and exchanges among various groups and tribes. I love the bold graphics on this bag. When I first saw it rolled out, it took my breath away. It is available for sale, so just imagine this beauty on your wall.