Women's bag from Philippines made of plain weave off-white cotton with red, green, yellow, and blue striped and herringbone patterns. The bag is constructed from one long piece of fabric which is folded in half lengthwise and widthwise. There is a seam down the middle of the front and the back of the bag where the selvedges are sewn together for 18" (46cm). The upper 15" (38cm) are unjoined and gathered to form the handle which is wrapped tightly with cotton yarn at the top. The bottom of the bag also has a hand-sewn edge (running stitch) and twisted self-fringe averaging 5" long. The design is composed of five embroidered herringbone stripes in red, yellow, green, and blue. Next, there are four thin woven stripes in the same colors. This pattern is repeated two more times, and this extends the length if the sewn center seam. The top of the bag (handle area) is without decor. The center seam is hand sewn with yellow cotton thread and in unraveling at the top of the seam. Women's bags in colorful twill herringbone patterns are reminiscent of special beaded heirloom bags carried on special occasions by women of the upper class. (_The People and Art of the Philippines_, Casal, Father Gabriel and Jose, Regalado Trota Jr., Museum of Cultural History, UCLA, 1981)

1985.029.025