Pouch

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The imagery seen here depicts early-19th century American life. The narrative is continuous over the whole of the bag and is unified by the body of water and the bridge. A notable detail in this pastoral scene is the figure of the shepherd carrying what appears to be an injured lamb suspended from a pole. Margaret S. Bedell (1861-1932) donated, by gift or bequest, over 500 objects to the Brooklyn Museum, including furniture, quilts, samplers, costume and Native American beadwork. Her collection of American and European beaded bags includes examples from Philadelphia and the Catskill Mountain region of New York State, as well as Italy, Austria, Germany, and Holland.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art