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apron
apron
apron
An apron made of unsmoked deer hide and decorated with porcupine quillwork and metal cones. There is a large cross in the center of the apron. Probably Anishinaabe, made between 1750-1800. Purchased by the British Museum from the Warwickshire Museum in 1982.
Based upon style, RP states it is most likely Anishinaabe.
Based on museum documentation and observations made by the on-site research team.
Read More About This Relative
Deer skin or hide; porcupine quills, natural and dyed red, yellow and black; metal cones; bison hair, dyed red; ochre, red; hock bells
The apron is made from cured deer skin or hide, possibly white originally. The unsmoked nature of the hide was confirmed by looking at the back. Ochre is found on the apron's back, on the front just above fringe and also on the centre portions of the hide. Fringes are "self" cut out of the body of the apron. Quillwork runs in two bands across the top and bottom, and the quillwork on the apron itself is bound around a stiff material. The quills were done in intervals so that you can see the colour through. One thong at the centre of the top goes through and forms a loop that might have attached something--looking at the back indicates that the loop was well fastened and so could bear weight. Quill wrapped bison hair is found in the tassels, and two tassels have red woolen yard inside them. Three hock bells are attached to one end of the apron.
An equal-armed cross is in centre of apron, with horizontal bars of quillwork on either side. There are 12 stripes in the quillwork across the top.
The GRASAC team said it is hard to know what this apron was for.
CW said she is still puzzled about its function.
This is an eighteenth century piece, probably made between 1750-1800.
Provenance
Purchased by the British Museum from the Warwickshire Museum in 1982.
About This GRASAC Record
Unknown Anishinaabe artist, moccasins. Currently in the British Museum, AM1982,28.25. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25516.
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).
researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).