message belt

message belt

message belt

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Introduction

Beaded message belt, made between 1750-1840. Collected by John T. and purchased by the British Museum from the Royal Institution of Cornwall through the Truro County Museum in 1986.

Nation of Maker: Other
Nation of Origin

Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Wendat or Other. Nation of origin is a mystery - more research is needed.

Date Made or Date Range: Mid 18 C to Early 19 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information found in the British Museum's object catalogue.

Materials

Made of a hemp or vegetable fibre warp and weft and blue, white, translucent gold and yellow barley pony beads. Decorated with metal cones attached to some of the 11 tassels found at each end. The fringe is made of quill-wrapped strings done with what are now light blue, orange and yellow quills, and beads strung in a repeating pattern of two white and two dark blue. Each fringe element ends with a metal cone containing blue dyed animal hair.

Techniques or Format

Loom woven.

Motifs and Patterns

Various geometric motifs.

Other Notes

Design and motifs are unique - this belt intrigued the GRASAC research team.

Dimensions: 128 × 7.5 × 0 cm
Condition: Good.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

British Museum object catalogue.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1986,18.22
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1986
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Royal Institution of Cornwall
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected by John T. and purchased by the British Museum from the Royal Institution of Cornwall through the Truro County Museum in 1986.

GKS Reference Number: 24393
How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, message belt Currently in the British Museum, Am1986,18.22. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 24393.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Henrietta Lidchi (HL), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184