Knowledge Sharing Platform
Flute
Flute
Flute
This relative, a flute covered with the skin of a common water snake, was collected by British Army officer Jasper Grant between 1800 and 1809. The origins of the flute are not certain; however, it has probable connections to the Eastern Great Lakes region.
This relative currently resides in the National Museum of Ireland.
This information was informed by the following resource: Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: Patterns of Power, 1984.
National Museum of Ireland accession records and GRASAC research notes.
Read More About This Relative
Wood, cedar; water snake skin (nerodia sipedon sipedon); wax.
Wood was carved in two pieces and glued together; covered by whole skin of a common water snake; nine finger holes, one plugged with wax.
Wooden flutes were used throughout the Woodlands and Great Lakes regions by young men to play melodious courting songs. The nine finger-holes on this flute, as well as the covering of snakeskin, are apparently unique.
Alan Corbiere: the bottom of the snake skin lines up with the bottom of the flute, top with top
Jasper Grant served as commandant of Fort George in the Niagara Peninsula and of Fort Malden at Amherstburg opposite Detroit from 1800-1809.
Provenance
Jasper Grant (1762-1812), Anglo-Irish officer who spent 9 years in Canada between 1800-1809. Served as commandant of Fort George in the Niagara Peninsula and of Fort Malden at Amherstburg opposite Detroit. It is likely that his wife, Isabella Grant, played a significant role in the collection of items given her close relationship to Madeline Askin Richardson, the daughter of a prominent fur trader and merchant with extensive ties to the surrounding Indigenous communities.
National Museum of Ireland records and GRASAC researcher notes from research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 22, 2010.
In 1984-1985 the Jasper Grant Collection was featured in a special travelling exhibition for the Ontario bicentennial, which was organized by the McMichael Canadian Collection and entitled "Patterns of Power."
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg,On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.
Philips, Ruth B. (1986-87). “Jasper Grant and Edward Walsh: the Gentleman-Soldier as Early Collector of Great Lakes Indian Art.” Journal of Canadian Studies 21(4): 56-71.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Name unrecorded. Flute. GRASAC ID: 26168. National Museum of Ireland Collection, 1902.350.
This record was augmented by Dana Murray on October 27, 2024. It was informed by notes from the GRASAC Research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 22 2010. Participants included Alan Corbiere, Ruth Phillips, Crystal Migwans, and Nicholas Stolle who were assisted by Padraig Clancy and Emma Crosby.
42.107, -83.1132
This information was informed by the following resource: Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: Patterns of Power, 1984. Fort Walden is identified on the map as a possible origin for this relative, but this reflects only one place where the relative may have lived. It is not a known place of origin; it is only one location associated with where the collector, Jasper Grant, served in the British Army.