mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

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Introduction

This Anishinaabe mkak (box) is made from birchbark with a floral design made from quillwork. It was collected by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1905. His collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS) sometime before 1937. ANS formally gifted the collection to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1997, where this relative currently resides.

Name of Maker(s): Maker Unrecorded
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Odawa
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

"Ottawa - Chippewa" is listed on the catalogue card.

Place of Origin: Michigan (Northern Michigan), USA
Date Made or Date Range: before 1905
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

The information in this record is based on museum documentation.

Materials

birchbark; sweetgrass; black thread; white thread; basswood or cedar twine; sweetgrass; porcupine quills natural and dyed purple, green, magenta, yellow, pink.

Techniques or Format

The box is made from a single piece of birchbark, cut and folded up to make the four sides. It is in the shape of a truncated period and has a flat square lid.
The handle is attached to the box with two-loop decorations on either side.

Motifs and Patterns

The multi-color quillwork is done in floral and thistle motifs.

Dimensions: 16 × 16 × 10.2 cm
Condition: A tassel was once attached to the box but has since broken off.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

These dates are based on Gottschall's collecting activities.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 97-84-111A (box); 97-84-111B (box lid); L-84-111A-B (old museum numbers); 18068 (ANS number); I 836 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/172513
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1997
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Gift of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1997
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1871-1905
Collection Narratives and Histories

It was collected by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1905. His collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS) sometime before 1937. ANS formally gifted the collection to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1997, where this relative currently resides.

Publication History

Gottschall, Amos H. Priced and Descriptive Catalogue of the Utensils, Implements, Weapons, Ornaments, Etc., of the Indians, Mound Builders, Cliff Dwellers: Typical Collections No. 1. 1909. (See: I 836)

GKS Reference Number: 25921
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 25921. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-111A & 97-84-111B.

Record Creation Context

Created during a visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 6 2010. The researchers present were: Adriana Greci-Green, David Penny, Stacey Loyer, Coralie Boeykens.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on November 5, 2024.

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