knife sheath

knife sheath

knife sheath

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Introduction

Knife sheath. Anishinaabe, made between 1750 and 1815. Acquired by Henry Christy and donated to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

Its style is characteristic of Anishinaabe items.

Date Made or Date Range: Mid 18 C to Early 19 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information in the British Museum object catalogue.

Materials

Made of smoked deer skin decorated with porcupine quills dyed red, black, green, yellow and white. A blue-green worsted yarn or linen tape is attached at the top, as a tie.

Techniques or Format

Made of two pieces of hide. The back is cut at the top with two lobes. There are three rows of folded quill work at the front, and single parrallel lines of quill work at the top. An unusual edging stitch forms a series of small triangles up the side.

Motifs and Patterns

Geometric motifs.

Dimensions: 22 × 9 × 0 cm
Condition: Very good.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Stylistic characteristics.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.2588
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
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: Before 1869
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected in North America or purchased in England by Henry Christy. It was acquired by the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Publication History

JCH King, 'Thunderbird and Lightning' (British Museum Press, 1982) p.18.

GKS Reference Number: 26399
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe artist, knife sheath. Currently in the British Museum, Am.2588. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 26399.

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), Jonathan King (JK), 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

44.16098, -91.78108

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