Beaded Bandolier Bags. Bandolier bags are large, heavily beaded pouches with a slit at the top. They have a beaded strap worn diagonally over the shoulder, thus resting the bag at hip level. The design is created using glass beads, a European trade good that replaced the traditional porcupine quills. The bags themselves are typically constructed from trade cloth, such as cotton, wool, velvet, or leather. Reference: Milwaukee Public Museum
Below are some examples and price guides of beaded bandolier bags including a Great Lakes bag dated 1852 and a beaded cloth bag.
A Great Lakes loom-beaded bandolier bag
Dated 1852, backed with black velvet, decorated with multicolored geometric designs on a white ground, with two bass bells and two old coins, loom tabs with wool and large bead tassels from the bottom.
lg. 35, wd. 8 1/4 in.
Sold for US$450 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023
Native American beadwork bandolier bag, bright floral designs, bag 19″ x 14″, shoulder strap approximately 45″ L x 5 1/4″ W.
Sold for US$450 at Kaminski Auctions in 2023
CONTEMPORARY BANDOLIER STYLE BOW CASE AND QUIVER
Beaded on trade cloth and cotton, with beaver and otter hide done in a Crow style. Hair and hide tassels. Red wool trimmed in white pony beads, geometric and feather designs on the beaded panels and tabs. 50″ top to bottom. Comes with a painted and decorated bow and 5 painted arrows with stone heads.
Sold for US$550 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2023
Navajo Bandolier Bag. Beaded image of a rider on a horse. Light blue background. Silver buttons along the leather strap, domed and stamped. Missing seven buttons. Zipper works. Minor bead loss. Note inside inscribed “Madame X”. Measures 31 1/2in x 8 1/2in.
Sold for US$1,800 at Turner Auctions + Appraisals in 2022
Beaded Cloth Bandolier Bag
Plains or Great Lakes, late 19th/early 20th century, wool trade cloth with overall decoration of glass seed beads loom and hand sewn, 47 in. long [Native American]
Sold for US$1,700 at Brunk Auctions in 2022
