gorget

gorget

gorget

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Introduction

Round shell gorget on a cord, worn on the chest. Decorated with two copper and glass buttons. Possibly Haudenosaunee.

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

Autumn Epple suggests this is Haudenosaunee. Mohawk leader Joseph Brant owned a similar shell gorget.

Date Made or Date Range: Early 18 C to Mid 18 C
Materials

Shell, cord, copper, glass

Additional Context

Autumn Epple notes the gorget made of shell may have been created to mimic the silver gorgets worn by European (primarily British) military leaders, to reflect similar status. This object may have been around the same time Europeans offered silver gorgets to Indigenous military leaders. AE notes the example seen is Mohawk leader Joseph Brant, who had both a shell gorget and silver gorget (part of the Royal Ontario Museum's collection).

Condition: Good. Appears to have been worn.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Autumn Epple theorizes that based on the style and material used, the gorget dates between 1700 and 1750.

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 71.1934.33.36 D
Collection Narratives and Histories

Déposant : Bibliothèque municipale de Versailles; Précédente collection : Musée de l'Homme (Amérique), inventaire: 34.33.36

Exhibition History

Premières Nations, Collections Royales, at the Musée du quai Branly, February 13 - May 13, 2007.

Publication History

Christian Feest, Premières Nations, Collections Royales: Les Indiens des forêts et des prairies d'Amérique du Nord (Paris: musée du quai Branly, 2007).

Sources to Learn More

Anne Vitart-Fardoulis, "Le cabinet du roi et les anciens Cabinets he Curiosités dans les collections du Musée de l'Homme," doctoral thesis under the superision of Jacques Soustelle, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris, 1979.

GKS Reference Number: 25089
How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, gorget. Currently in the Musée du quai Branly, 71.1934.33.36 D. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip; GRASAC item id 25089.

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184