Burden Strap

Burden Strap

Burden Strap

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Introduction

This relative, a burden strap, is long and narrow. There are decorative porcupine quills or moose hair and beads, woven onto apocynum/dogbane (hemp) in geometric patterns. Each end of the strap is braided, branching off into two individual straps. The braided dogbane is a little narrower than the middle of the strap with decoration. The horizontal edges are fringed with white beads. Collected by British Army officer Jasper Grant between 1800-1809, the origins of the bikan are not certain; however, it has probable connections to the Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee Confederacy or Huron-Wendat.

This relative currently resides at the National Museum of Ireland.

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee Huron-Wendat
Nation of Origin

Hodenosaunee or Huron-Wendat in origin.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

This information was informed by the following resource: Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: Patterns of Power, 1984.

Date Made or Date Range: 1800-1809
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

GRASAC researcher notes.

Materials

Indian hemp (apocynum); glass beads, white; moosehair or porcupine quills, blue, light and deep orange, yellow, blue-green, natural white.

Other Notes

NS; identified the decorative material as porcupine quills, not moosehair. Under the magnifying lens the coloured elements appear to be quills, but conservation analysis would be needed to get a definitive identification

Dimensions: 60.5 × 5.5 × 0 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

This record draws on images and information recorded in Ruth Phillips's book, Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.

Current Location: National Museum of Ireland
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1902.333
Collection at Current Location: Jasper Grant Collection
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Jasper Grant's grandson, Robert Ussher, donated the collection to the National Museum of Ireland in 1902.
Collection Narratives and Histories

Jasper Grant (1762-1812), Anglo-Irish officer who spent 9 years in Canada between 1800-1809. Served as commandant of Fort George in the Niagara Peninsula and of Fort Malden at Amherstburg opposite Detroit. It is likely that his wife, Isabella Grant, played a significant role in the collection of items given her close relationship to Madeline Askin Richardson, the daughter of a prominent fur trader and merchant with extensive ties to the surrounding Indigenous communities.

Exhibition History

In 1984-1985 the Jasper Grant Collection was featured in a special travelling exhibition for the Ontario bicentennial, which was organized by the McMichael Canadian Collection and entitled "Patterns of Power."

Publication History

Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.

Sources to Learn More

Philips, Ruth B. (1986-87). “Jasper Grant and Edward Walsh: the Gentleman-Soldier as Early Collector of Great Lakes Indian Art.” Journal of Canadian Studies 21(4): 56-71.

GKS Reference Number: 24412
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Burden strap. GRASAC ID 24412. National Museum of Ireland Collection 1902.333.

Record Creation Context

This record was augmented by Dana Murray on June 30, 2024. It draws on images and information recorded in Ruth Phillips's book, Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984, and GRASAC researcher notes from the research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 22, 2010. Participants included Alan Corbiere, Ruth Phillips, Crystal Migwans, Nicholas Stolle, who were assisted by Padraig Clancy and Emma Crosby.

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