Black beaded bag with flowers belonging to Etta Moten Barnett

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This is a black beaded evening bag belonging to Etta Moten Barnett. The bag is a square purse with a scalloped top. It has a hinged opening. The opening closes with a metal snap closure. The exterior of the bag is covered in tiny black beads sewn into swirling patterns. On the front of the bag is a large flower formed out of larger shiny black beads. There are several smaller flowers formed out of the same beads scattered over the front of the purse. The interior of the bag is lined in black silk. There is a black tag sewn onto the interior pocket on the rear panel of the bag. It has gold text that reads “Made in Korea.” Part of the black silk lining is coming undone and pulling away from the frame of the bag. Some of the beads from the large flower are loose.

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