tray, birchbark

tray, birchbark

tray, birchbark

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Introduction

A birchbark tray with floral porcupine quill decoration.

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

Described on the card as "Chippewa."

Date Made or Date Range: before 1914
Materials

birchbark; porcupine quills dyed green, pink, orange, purple, red natural; split root (cedar or spruce); beige thread.

Techniques or Format

A central circular bottom has three identical panels tacked with thread, over which there is criss cross quills. The criss cross quills are natural on the panel joints and pink, red, and natural around the bottom circle. Split root is lashed onto the edges with thinner root. Natural porcupine quill double-tacks throughout. On the back, the sewing and tacking is visible.

Motifs and Patterns

Floral. The bottom has a circle with four petals.

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

Gottschall collected between 1880-1914.

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: L-84-166
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1936
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1880-1914
Collection Narratives and Histories

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP)

GKS Reference Number: 26614
Record Creation Context

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 6 2010.