Techniques or Format

Weft yarns: vegetable. Warp yarns: vegetable (partially painted). Wool color: blue/black, red, yellow, turquoise blue. Spaced two strand weft twining (Z), diverted, transposed.

Motifs and Patterns

Flat rectangular storage bag with differnt geometric design on each side. Design on recto, at center, consists of concentric diamonds with parallel, oblique black lines radiating towards the edges, bounded at the sides by vertical stripes in red, orange, yellow, blue and black. Verso design consists of parallel vertical black zigzag lines, bounded by straight vertical colored lines. Stained bars wrapping around the edges.

Additional Context

Notable is the presence of the red, yellow and blue stripe on the edge, as seen on some drums, in which the yellow is the path of the sun (AC). The emanating lines may be interpreted as 'shining spirit power,' (DP) radiating from the central diamond in an hourglass pattern. The diamond could be the underwater panther, or the diamond in the heart of the thunderbird...the experts all disagree (this symbols appears as either one, or sometimes between them). The number of emanating bars can indicate the number of different ways to learn about the spirit, and a number of moons (AC).

Original and Subsequent Uses

storage

Dimensions: 20.875 × 15.5 × 0 in

Condition: Considerable insect damage by large jawed insect. Extensive loss of wool fiber, with odd staining appearing on the beige threads where the blue zigzag has worn away. Reduction in height, either in finishing or later. Warp ends (at top) cut then reattached with fold to finish (close) raw edge. Reattachment by means of spaced two strand twining.

Current Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 81.285

Collection at Current Location: Chandler Pohrt Collection

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1981

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Richard A. Pohrt

GKS Reference Number: 24746