two-tabbed pouch

two-tabbed pouch

two-tabbed pouch

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Introduction

This two-tabbed pouch has very distinct and complex quillwork. The quillworker produced intricate positive and negative spaces. One of the taps at the top of the pouch has two lines of quill decoration in white and orange (originally red) - though some of the quills are now missing. The middle section of the bag has what GRASAC researchers described as "psychedelic" embroidered quillwork. The lanes of quillwork are interlaced and have a sinuous quality. The designs are not geometric and controlled in the usual ways; the designs feel less controlled, but are outlined with precision. The quillworker used two to three colours in a lane, and there is ambiguity in the motifs. The bottom of the bag is decorated with a thick panel of loon feathers arranged to create two black and white triangles overtop a black pentagon. Rows of tinkle cones are attached between the quillwork and the feathers, and at the bottom of the bag. The thongs holding the tinkle cones in place were wrapped with quill, and most of the hair from the cones is now missing. The inside of the bag is lined with a blue fabric.

This relative currently resides at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Germany.

Nation of Maker: Sioux
Nation of Origin

Sioux, "Sisetan Sioux" Sisseton

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Museum documentation and GRASAC researcher analysis

Place of Origin: Missouri River, USA
Date Made or Date Range: pre-1840
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and GRASAC researcher notes

Materials

hide, porcupine quill, loon feathers, tinkle cones, deer or moosehair (mostly missing), likely cotton fabric (possibly wool)

Techniques or Format

Maureen Matthews observed that the quillwork is embroidered.

Motifs and Patterns

Within the quillwork are triangles, Y-shapes, and curvilinear sections. It is possible that some of the motifs represent horned beings.

Additional Context

This bag--especially its quillwork--generated much discussion and interest during GRASAC's research visit to the Museum. Alan Corbiere described it as "psychedelic" in its design. The quillworker definitely had specific intentions. Laura Peers noted the design is "busier" than what is seen on most bags, and the quillworker used techniques differently--for example, normally curves create outlines when quillworkers are employing an embroidery technique, but this bag has curves within the design elements. Laura Peers also noted that the quillworker used multiple colours within a motif, whereas often colours are used to distinguish motifs. Both Maureen Matthews and Laura Peers thought the motifs could represent horned beings.

Other Notes

This relative is related in Museum documentation to a tikinagan (collected in 1839), and quillwork with hawk feathers. It has some similiarities to the two-tabbed pouch IV-B-166, however, they came from different collectors.

Condition: Hair in tinkle cones has been cropped
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The item was collected in 1840, so must have been made before then. The documentation suggests origins in Missouri, and related items are identified with Sisetan Sioux. Laura Peers thought these were accurate associations based on the bag.

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: IV-B-167
Collection at Current Location: Engelmann
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1840
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Dr. Englemann
Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation

GKS Reference Number: 59169
How to Cite this Item

Sioux Maker, Name Unknown. Two-tabbed pouch. GRASAC ID 59169. Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Catalogue Number IV-B-167.

Record Creation Context

This record was created by Cara Krmpotich on March 13, 2024 based on photographs and notes taken during a GRASAC research visit to the Museum in May 2019, including Cara Krmpotich, Alan Corbiere, Laura Peers, Maureen Matthews, with Hannah Turner and Charles Feaver on photography. Curator Monika Zessnik supported the visit.

Source of Information about Places

Museum records associate this pouch with the Missouri River.