beaded discs

beaded discs

beaded discs

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Introduction

Set of four discs made of woven sweetgrass. Each disc is has beaded symmetrical designs on wool and silk ribbon backing, appliqued on one side. Collected by Lewis Henry Morgan from a Seneca artist, circa 1840s.

Date Made or Date Range: Early 19th century
Materials

sweetgrass, wool, silk, glass beads, thread

Techniques or Format

Each disk is made of silk and/or wool background, edged with silk ribbon in a different colour. Beadwork is done on top of this. Beaded edging. Backing is coiled sweetgrass. Edged with silk tape (front and back).

Motifs and Patterns

abstracted floral motifs, spirals, diamonds

Other Notes

JJ: Suggests that these cloth and sweetgrass disks may have originated as shell disks strung as a necklace. The evidence for this are archaeologically found small shell disks with single holes most of which have engraved designs. More geometrical designs, only one with a floral design. Some people have suggested these could be a compass. Designs are geometric and rarely curvilinear.

Dimensions: 0 × 0 × 0 cm
Condition: fair
Current Location: Rochester Museum and Science Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 70.89.75
Collection at Current Location: Lewis Henry Morgan Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1970
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: University of Rochester
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1840s
Previous Collectors: Lewis Henry Morgan
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected by Lewis Henry Morgan in 1840s in New York State and bequeathed to the University of Rochester (U of R) upon his death in 1881. The collection was transferred from the U of R to the Rochester Museum in 1970.

GKS Reference Number: 45188
Record Creation Context

Visit to Rochester Museum and Science Center (Rochester, NY) of Wahsontiio Cross, Kate Higginson, Alexandra Nahwegahbow, Melissa Otis, Ruth Phillips and Paula Whitlow, assisted by Jamie Jacobs and Kathryn Murano on 2-3 May 2016.

Approximate Place of Origin

47.4, -88.2

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