bag, twined

bag, twined

bag, twined

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Introduction

A twined medicine bag made of beige cotton with black designs, containing a piece of red ribbion inside. Made in the mid nineteenth century. It is of Anishinaabe (Odawa) style, although the museum catalogue records states it is of Winnebago, Nebraska, origin. Purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum from avid collector and amateur anthropologist Albert Green Heath in 1939.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Odawa Potawatomi Other
Nation of Origin

The style and kind of item suggests a nation of origin of Ojibwe, Odawa, or Potawatomi. The Pitt Rivers Accession book entry reads "Winnebago Indians Nebraska $15.00."

Date Made or Date Range: 1840s to 1860s
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Written on site at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Materials

cotton, beige; wool or bison hair, black; wool, red and green; ribbon, red.

Techniques or Format

The bag is woven or twined. The pattern on both sides was made by incorporating the darker material (black wool or bison hair) into the weave. A piece of red ribbon is found inside the bag.

Motifs and Patterns

Vertical stripes and geometric patterns.

Additional Context

The pattern on one side might represent an offering dish inside a thunderbird. The other side might be decorated with motifs representing either a negative/positive image with a diamond inside other diamonds, or it might represent a turtle. The bag's designs, and the piece of red silk ribbon inside, suggest this is a medicine bag (RP).

Other Notes

Video conference interpretation by Odawa elder Eddie King of M'Chigeeng First Nation - coming soon!

Dimensions: 7.5 × 9 × 0 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The linen fibre used in the bag's construction suggests it was made in the mid-19th century.

Current Location: Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, United Kingdom
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1939.8.36 B
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1939
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Albert Green Heath
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: before 1939
Collection Narratives and Histories

Item was purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum from avid collector and amateur anthropologist Albert Green Heath in 1939.

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

See attached PRM catalogue record.

Sources to Learn More

1986 "Dreams and Designs: Iconographic Problems in Great Lakes Twined Bags," Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 62 (1): 26-37, reprinted in David Penney ed., Great Lakes Indian Art, Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1989.

GKS Reference Number: 25861
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). Cory Willmott funded by Pasold Research Fund grant.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), Al Corbiere (AC), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Laura Peers (LP), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

45.8, -83.9

Source of Information about Places

See below.

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