Barabaig Beaded Leather Handbag

Flirty, roomy, hand-made and absolutely one-of-a-kind, this supple, dyed-leather Barabaig Beaded Leather Handbag is cut in the shape of a toting gourd used by Tanzania’s Barabaig women to carry all their essentials. The white and clear fringe beads symbolize blessings. Drawstring closure; lined; zipper coin pocket. Each will vary slightly.  Open, 10"l. x 10"d. with 28"l. beaded strap.

Museum Provenance

Imagine yourself a traveler in Africa or Asia. Awed by the sights, you wander through the local shops, searching for something special to bring home to represent the cultures you’ve seen. Shop our mini world market and delight in these artisan offerings from Africa and India. Each of these lovely treasures is representative of holdings in our National Museums of African Art and Natural History.

Every Smithsonian purchase will arrive with a museum provenance card explaining how it is adapted from or inspired by an object or objects in our collection.