It appears to depict a pregnant woman preparing to give birth.

FROM CARD: "OCTOPUS BAG, VERY SIMILAR TO ONE IN PORTLAND ART MUSEUM (#48-3-817), CALLED TLINGIT, RECEIVED 1934 FROM WINTER AND FORD (LONG-TIME PHOTOGRAPHERS IN TLINGIT AREA). -- KATE DUNCAN 3/18/1979."Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=51, retrieved 3-31-2012: Octopus Bag, Tlingit, Southeast Alaska.See Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on a different Tlingit octopus bag which in the collections of the National Museum of the American Indian http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=478, retrieved 2-13-2022. It has this information on octopus bags: Beaded octopus or "devilfish" bags, named for their eight dangling arms, are traditional and contemporary dance regalia, worn by both men and women. ... Octopus bags may have been adopted from Athabascan neighbors but were probably invented by Algonkian or Salish-speaking peoples of Canada, where these bags are also well known. "We always called it "finger bag" and it's true, the real name is "devil fish or octopus finger bag." And it was not only used by a man. In the olden days they put their valuables in there like a necklace or a bracelet; whatever is valuable to them, they have it in there." - Anna Katzeek, 2005Florence Sheakley, elder and beader, made the following comments during the Tlingit Recovering Voices Community Research Visit, March 13-March 24, 2017. This bag would have taken a long time to make based on how close the beads are to one another. The blue beads on the tassels of this object would have come from trade with Russia. This bag also has double toes, and was made with two needles whereas beaders today usually only use one.

FROM CARD: "FIRST NECKRING OF "HAYALIKAWI." ILLUS. IN USNM REPT, 1895; FIG. 175; P. 518."

From card: "Carved and painted."

Object is from Yakutat Tlingit, Port Mulgrave, per Dall's field catalogue, filed under Accession No. 3258, entry under # 1159.

From card: "For berries."

From card: "Shallow dish with inner surface covered with mythological carvings in low relief. Displaying great skill and execution of a good design. The dish was formed on a lathe. Purchased from H. Stadthagen (Indian Trader), 79 Johnson St., Victoria, B.C. $22.50."Label glued on back of artifact has this information: "H. Stadthagen, Indian Trader, 79 Johnson Street, Victoria, B.C. $22.50."Comment from Graduate Student Research Paper, "A Report on Accession #42610 of the National Museum of Natural History", written by Athena Hsieh in April 2012, for the class "Anthropology in the Museum" taught by NMNH Curator, Dr. J. Daniel Rogers for the George Washington University. Approved for inclusion into notes by Dr. Igor Krupnik. Dr. Krupnik and NMNH has not verified the contents of the comment below, and suggests future researchers verify the remarks before citing Ms. Hsieh. The complete paper is attached to the accession record of this object in EMu. "The specific type of slate is called black silt argillite. Argillite is rare, and is found in Slatechuck Mountain on Graham Island, and only certain individuals were allowed the right to remove material from the quarry. That the artist was able to use argillite at all is an indication of his status. The southern Haida, especially those from Skidegate, were known amongst traders for their argillite plates with abalone shell inlay, which were then polished with dried sharkskin (Van Den Brink 1974, 74). The plate contains images of killer whales and a raven. H. Stadthagen was known as “The Indian Trader” who advertised in the local paper as a seller of “Indian Curios” (Victoria Daily Columnist 1902, 7). ... Though any records on Stadthagen and his business were not found, the maker of the plate might become known if Stadthagen's transactions are preserved. What can be inferred from the carvings on the plate is that it was likely carved by an individual of the Eagle moiety, since an image of the bird appears in the center of the plate, flanked by two killer whales. There is a possibility that this may be the work of Charles Edensaw, who was of the Eagle lineage. Citations Van Den Brink, J. H. 1974. The Haida Indians: Cultural Change mainly between 1876-1970. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Victoria Daily Columnist “Classified Advertisements.” February 19, 1902."