Minneapolis Institute of Art

Charm Bag

Meskwaki (Sac and Fox) artist

Date

c. 1870–80

Medium

Beads, wool, cotton

Culture

Meskwaki (Sac and Fox)

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Many Meskwaki and other Great Lakes artistic creations stem from a belief in “Manitous, ” supernatural beings who help anyone who appropriately seeks their services. This pouch depicts one kind of Manitou: an Underwater Panther. An important spiritual force, these powerful and potentially dangerous beings could disrupt the waters with their long and sometimes jagged tails, pulling people beneath the surface. The points on the head are horns, not ears. Meskwaki (Sac and Fox), United States, Americas

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