Pipe bag c. late 19th century

This pipe bag was made by A'aninin, also known as Gros Ventre. The bag features a distinct structure: a tanned hide pouch gives way to a rectangular beaded panel and then culminates in a cascade of fringe. The tanned hide at the top, with its organic texture and asymmetrical edges, contrasts sharply with the geometric precision of the beadwork below. The beadwork is dominated by an hourglass shape formed from triangles, rendered in shades of pink and blue against a white background. This shape alludes to temporality and transition. The bag destabilizes typical notions of surface and depth. The fringe at the bottom introduces a tactile element, inviting touch and movement. The overall design isn't just decorative; it reflects a structured visual language, using symmetry and geometry to communicate cultural and philosophical ideas, echoing a semiotic system of signs.