Native American, Northwestern United States, Washington / Idaho, Plateau Tribes, Nez Perce ca. 19th century CE. A large cornhusk bag finely woven or twined from hemp / cotton cords and embroidered with wool yarn. Jane Silcott allegedly made this piece according to an old inventory tag and was originally part of the Sacajawea Museum's collection. "Kamo" refers to the grasses (cornhusk) used to weave this. The tag attributes the maker as Jane Silcott (Koi-Noo) (1842 -1895), the daughter to Chief Timothy Tamootsin (1808 - 1891). Both Chief Timothy and his daughter played a significant role in the history of the Nez Perce people and the interactions with European American settlers. Jane Silcott served as the guide for Elias Pierce's party of prospectors as they searched for gold on the Nez Perce Reservation in the Idaho territory. They found gold, sparking the 1850 Idaho gold rush and forever changing the region. She married a member of the group, John Silcott. Size of bag: 11.75" L x 11.25" W (29.8 cm x 28.6 cm); case: 16.25" L x 12.25" W (41.3 cm x 31.1 cm)

The Sacajawea Museum in Spalding Idaho was opened run by married (non-native) couple Joseph and Pauline Evans between the 1930s and 1960s, the collection consisted largely of handmade items, heirlooms, and photographs that were sold or donated by the local Nez Perce tribe. The main attractions were a dress that was allegedly worn by Sacajawea and a canoe that was supposedly used by the Lewis and Clark expedition. A flood in 1963 damaged the building past repair, and most of the pieces, such as this this bag, were bought by dealers, tribal members, or incorporated into the Nez Perce National Park Museum and other institutions such as the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: private Thornton, Colorado, USA collection

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#182896

Fraying to the upper red cloth rim and losses to those fibers. Rest of the bag is intact and tightly woven. Some fading to dye pigments. Displayed in Riker case.