Materials

Made with black, red (now faded to a salmony brown) and green yarn, possibly bison hair, linen thread and white pony beads. The fringe of yarn has been decorated with red, white and black porcupine quills and metal cones containing red dyed deer hair. On one end there are nine cones (one appears to be missing), with 22 smaller ones on the other end.

Techniques or Format

Finger woven, decorated with interwoven beads. The fringe has been made by wrapping yarn with porcupine quills. It is difficult to tell whether the two black bands were woven separately and then attached, or woven as one piece. The GRASAC research team thought it was probably made by weaving two pieces together, but was unable to understand how the two pieces were attached.

Motifs and Patterns

From left to right, the top portion has two double chevrons, a space, nine double chevrons, ending with a single chevron-- the bottom portion has one "x", a space, five "x"s and a double chevron.

Other Notes

This item is of high virtuosity. Robert Storrie of the British Museum said it is "gorgeous."

Condition: Robert Storrie of the British Museum said this garter is in "marvellous" condition.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Given that it was created before its collector, Henry Christy, travelled to the Great Lakes region, it was likely made in the mid-eighteenth to early nineteenth century.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.2629

Collection at Current Location: Christy Collection

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1860s

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Henry Christy

Collection Narratives and Histories

Part of a larger collection called The Christy Collection, the British Museum ojbect catalogue indicates it was donated to the British Museum by English ethnologist Henry Christy between 1860 and 1869.

GKS Reference Number: 25304

How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabeg/Haudenosaunee artist, garter, pendant. Currently in the British Museum, Am.2629. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25304.

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).