Most wall hangings are flat and are meant to hang on a wall. They come in six basic forms: whiskbroom holders, match holders, picture frames, wall pockets, horseshoes, and canoes. Canoes are not flat like the others, but their construction is basically the same. The first two forms are made only in the Mohawk area, while the other four are made in both the Mohawk and Niagara areas.

Of the 230 flat pieces in the collection, 85 have words, dates, or both beaded on them. The words include MONTREAL 1946, FROM A FRIEND, BANJO, TAKE ME DEAR, KATERI, SARATOGA, DEAR FRIEND, MATCH 1907, MATCHBOX, TORONTO 1938, OKA, PICTUPE 1903 (sic), SCISSORS, CAUGHNAWAGA, KAHNAWAKE, TUSCARORA RESERVE, WHISK, BOX, TORONTO SOUENIR (sic.) 29 have only dates that range from 1893 to 2001.

Out of the 30 horseshoes 20 of them say GOOD LUCK. Others say REMEMBER ME and TIHINK OF ME (sic). There are 33 canoes that have beaded on them FAST BOAT, BAST BOAT (sic,) INDIAN CANOE, STATE FAIR, NIAGARA FALLS, MONTREAL, THINK OF ME, HERO DEWEY, and JOHN BOAT.

An explanation of why there are so many misspelled words on beadwork is that the women who made the beadwork were speakers of Mohawk, French, and English but probably could not read English, but most pieces were made for the English-speaking market.

Whiskbroom holders were made in a wide variety of designs. The most common bead colors, like in the match holders, are amber, gold, and green. Almost all whiskbroom holders and match holders have a three or five scalloped top outline and a three scalloped bottom edge with three to five clumps of beads hanging from the bottom. Some whiskbroom holders are shaped like snowshoes. They range from 3 inches to 12 inches long.

Two pocket match holders were meant to hold stick matches, which were important in homes before houses were wired for electricity. Perhaps new matches were held in one side and used ones in the other.

Picture frames were made as early as the 1850s, illustrating how quickly the Iroquois sewers responded to a need. Some of the largest and most ornate were made by Mohawk beadworkers in the early 20th century. See the wide variety of picture frame shapes below and on the inside of the back cover.

Wall pockets take many forms. Some are referred to as wall slippers because they look like a woman’s slipper. Niagara wall slippers average only 6 inches tall and feature clear beads. Some are completely covered with beads and show little or no fabric. Mohawk wall pockets are more ornate with several clumps of loops hanging from them. A third type of wall pocket has a red cloth cover, clear beads, and often white outlines. There are many other shape variations.

Long wall pockets were meant to hold scissors, as the one illustrated plainly states.

Unusual wall hangings are shaped like banjos, canoes, birds, and pennants.

Basic types of wall hangings are:

1. Early picture frame: small openings for small early pictures, mid 19th century.
2. Picture frame: early 20th century, Mohawk, extremely high raised beaded balls, loops, often dated.
3. Picture frame: mid 20th century, Mohawk, common use of white beads.
4. Picture frame: late 19th to early 20th century, Niagara, flat birds, tulip-like flowers, often words on bottom.
5. Whiskbroom holders: ca 1900-1920, Mohawk, often in green or gold beads, dates frequent.
6. Snowshoe whiskbroom holders: ca 1900-1920, Mohawk, shaped like long snowshoes.
7. Match holders: Mohawk, ca 1900-1920, one and two pocket forms, some with animals, similar to whiskbroom holders.
8. Wall slippers: 19th century, Niagara, small with little fabric showing, clear bead fringe.
9. Wall pockets: late 19th to early 20th century, Mohawk, variable sizes and shapes, feature long hanging loops.
10. Horseshoe: Niagara and Mohawk, GOOD LUCK common to both, Mohawk have other sayings.
11. Canoe: Niagara often say NIAGARA FALLS, Mohawk FAST BOAT and other sayings and place names.
12. Combination: basic horseshoe with a picture frame or whiskbroom holder, or a frame and a wall pocket.