birchbark basket

birchbark basket

birchbark basket

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Introduction

Birchbark basket almost complete covered in colourful floral quillwork designs. An attached lid hinges open and is secured with two silk ribbons. This item was collected by Johann Georg Schwarz in the 1820s, and it is currently housed at the Weltmuseum Wien, Austria.

Name of Maker(s): Unknown artist
Date Made or Date Range: Before 1822
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

GRASAC research notes created during an onsite visit to Weltmuseum in January of 2016.

Materials

Birchbark, porcupine quill, silk ribbon.

Techniques or Format

Rectangular basket with hinged lid; all over quill work except for back; thin wooden splint form inner rim, hinged to lid with silk ribbon, bottom is separate piece attached with quill and black thread; four separate pieces of birchbark.

Motifs and Patterns

Floral; small floral image on lid on back.

Dimensions: 13.5 × 6.5 × 7.5 cm
Condition: Excellent.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Johann Georg Schwarz collected this item, possibly when he traveled to Detroit and through Upper Canada in the winter of 1820-1821.

Current Location: Weltmuseum Wien, Vienna, Austria
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 012035
Collection at Current Location: Schwarz Collection
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1820s
Previous Collectors: Johann Georg Schwarz
Collection Narratives and Histories

Johann Georg Schwarz traveled to Detroit and through Upper Canada in the winter of 1820-1821.

GKS Reference Number: 59031
How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, birchbark basket. Currently in the Weltmuseum Wien, Vienna, Austria, 12035. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip January 2016; GRASAC item id 59031.

Record Creation Context

In January of 2016, a small team of GRASAC researchers visited the collection to study and photograph it: Ruth Phillips, Lisa Truong, Naomi Recollet (Anishinaabe (Odawa/Ojibwe), Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory) and Wahsontiio Cross (Mohawk, Kahnawake). This GKS record was created in January of 2022 by GRASAC RA Aidan Mitchell-Boudreau.

Approximate Place of Origin

43.6, -71.9

Source of Information about Places

Johann Georg Schwarz collected this item, possibly when he traveled to Detroit and through Upper Canada in the winter of 1820-1821.

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