mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

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Introduction

This Anishinaabe mkak (box) is made from birchbark. It has floral and linear motifs made from quillwork along the lid and sides. The mkak was collected by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1902. Upon his death, his collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS) in 1937. ANS gifted the collection to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1997, where it currently resides. 

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Odawa
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Gottschall listed the nation of origin as "Ottawa" in his catalogue.

Place of Origin: Michigan (Northern Michigan), USA
Date Made or Date Range: before 1914
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

The information in this record is based on museum documentation.

Materials

birchbark; beige thread; split root; porcupine quills, natural and dyed red, purple, and pink.

Motifs and Patterns

The quillwork forms a purple and red flower on the lid of the box. The sides are decorated with alternating bands of white and red quillwork.

Dimensions: 5.5 × 9 × 0 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

These dates are based on Gottschall's collecting activities.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 97-84-159A (box); 97-84-159B (box lid); L-84-159A-B (old museum numbers); 18097 (ANS number); II 310 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/318422
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1997
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Gift of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1997
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1880 to 1914
Collection Narratives and Histories

The mkak was collected by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1902. Upon his death, his collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS) in 1937. ANS gifted the collection to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1997, where it currently resides.

Publication History

Gottschall, Amos H. Priced and Descriptive Catalogue of the Utensils, Implements, Weapons, Ornaments, Etc., of the Indians, Mound Builders, Cliff Dwellers: Typical Collections No. 2. 1909. (See: II 310)

GKS Reference Number: 24384
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 24384. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-159A & 97-84-159B.

Record Creation Context

Visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 7 2010. Researchers present: Adriana Greci-Green, David Penny, Stacey Loyer, Coralie Boeykens.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on August 9, 2024.

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