garters

garters

garters

top image
Introduction

Fingerwoven garter, sash or pendant. Anishinaabeg or Haudenosaunee, made in the Great Lakes region. Collected by Lord Amherst or Captain Alfred Walter Francis between 1758 and 1763.

Nation of Origin

Anishinaabeg or Haudenosaunee

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

Made of green and red woolen yarn which has faded to a salmony colour, decorated with interwoven white pony beads. Both ends have a fringe made from porcupine quills wrapped around groups of warp threads, terminating in metal cones filled with red dyed deer hair, nine at each end.

Techniques or Format

This item is finely finger woven and appears to be almost crochet-like. At both ends, groups of warp threads are braided or knotted, dividing them into nine pieces which are then wrapped with porcupine quills.

Motifs and Patterns

Down the centre, a chained diamond design is formed with red wool woven into the green background, echoed with small holes created from a loose weaving technique. Bordering this central chain are two opposed zig zag lines done in interwoven beadwork.

Other Notes

The GRASAC reseach team suggested it could be pendant or sash because of the x pattern at the top/mid-point.

Dimensions: 6.5 × 0 × 0 in
Condition: This item is in good condition.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Made before 1758 to 1763, when Lord Amherst was in North America.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1972,13.14
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Estelle W Fuller
Collection Narratives and Histories

Donated to the British Museum in 1972 by Estelle W. Fuller. The label attached to this item gives various collector names, "Field Marshal Jeffrey, Baron Amherst-- Lord Amherst." The British Museum object catalogue states that this information needs to be clarified.

GKS Reference Number: 25694
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabeg/Haudenosaunee artist, garters. Currently in the British Museum, Am1972,13.14. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25694.

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).

Approximate Place of Origin

43.7918, -84.2994