wall pocket

wall pocket

wall pocket

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Introduction

Small oval-shaped wall pocket made from unsmoked hide and decorated with floral silk embroidery, lined with cotton and featuring white fur.

Nation of Maker: Cree Maskêkowiyiniwak (Swampy Cree) Mushkegowuk (Western James Bay Cree) Omushkego (Winisk-Swampy Cree) Métis
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

British Museum Catalog Card.

Place of Origin: Ontario or Manitoba, CAN
Date Made or Date Range: Mid 19 C to Early 20 C
Materials

Made of hide; yellow, red, fur; ermine, silk embroidery thread; pink, red, blue, yellow, orange.

Techniques or Format

Small bag, wall pocket, roughly oval in shape, with flattened top edges, of unsmoked skin, the main face decorated with sprays of single pink flowers, with three red and purple fruit below, and two blue star shaped flowers. The top section above the opening is embroidered with two pink fruit, foliage and nine blue pin-wheel designs. The opening lip and edge is decorated with white fur, possibly ermine or rabbit skin, the pouch is lined with white cotton, and probably sewn with cotton thread. At the back is a loop of orange and red silk rope for suspension.

British Museum Online Record.

Motifs and Patterns

Asymmetrical design.

Other Notes

The drawn-on design done in possibly a red ink, it is clearly visible beneath the embroidery, especially around the leaves in the bottom panel of the design. This possibly indicates a new artist who is learning the techniques, or an older artist whose eyesight is diminishing.

Dimensions: 2 × 13 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair. Some moth damage to ermine fur.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

British Museum Online Record.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1936 1020.12
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1936
Collection Narratives and Histories

Mrs. Frances Kitson

GKS Reference Number: 24791
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Cree/Métis artist, wall pocket. Currently in the British Museum, 1936 1020.12. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 24791.

Record Creation Context

Record created as part of practicum, winter 2009.

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