Flights of Fancy: 200 Years of
Iroquois Beadwork is the title of the exhibit in
the Chemung Valley History Museum in Elmira, NY. The
exhibit will be up until the middle of June. The exhibit
logo, as pictured on this Introduction Panel, is a picture
of a red bird created by master Tuscarora beadworker,
Dolly Printup-Winden.
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Three generations of Tuscarora birds. The red bird on the
bottom was made by Dolly Printup-Winden. The second one
was made by her mother, Dorothy Printup. The third bird
was made by her mother, Matilda Hill whose 1931 picture is
shown in the heart picture frame made by Dolly. She also
made the green picture frame which displays her picture on
the left and her mother's picture on the right.
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Wall hangings are made in many forms. The upper case
features Mohawk match holders and whisk broom holders. The
case below displays horseshoe good luck hangers. Picture
frames hang in the third case. All date to the last half
of the 19th century and first twenty years of the 20th
century.
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These pieces feature designs with crossed flags. All
display U S flags except for the diamond-shaped one which
has crossed French and British flags. Flag motifs were
integrated into Mohawk beadwork pieces from the 1870s
until about 1930. Since 9/11 flags have reappeared on
Iroquois beadwork.
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Place names were often beaded onto beadwork souvenirs.
Niagara Falls is the most popular name reflecting the high
number of visitors to the Falls. Tourists like to take
home a souvenir that reminds them of their visit to the
natural wonder and what better than to take home something
made by a person who is known as living close to nature.
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Flat black purses are very common. They feature beaded
floral motifs in two shades of pink, blue, white, gold,
and green. They were made in many different shapes from
the 1850s until the 20th century. A chronology of styles
has not yet been worked out.
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Purple velvet is a popular cloth on Iroquois beadwork,
especially that made at Kahnawake, the Mohawk reserve near
Montreal. Many purple pincushions are very elegant.
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Hot pink cloth is common on Mohawk pieces made in the
early 20th century. Picture frames, boots, hearts, purses,
needlecases, and whisk broom holders were made with hot
pick cloth.
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