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Bgamaagan, gunstock; Club, gunstock
Bgamaagan, gunstock; Club, gunstock
Bgamaagan, gunstock; Club, gunstock
This relative, a "gunstock" bgamaagan (gunstock club), boasts a carved bnesi (thunderbird) and parallel rows of zigzag lightning or power lines in relief at the widest point of the bgamaagan, on one side. Red paint has been applied as an inlay of the zigzag border, with greenish residue possibly also from a metal pigment. On the opposite side of the bgamaagan, only the double zigzag lines have been carved. A single iron blade is affixed to the bend in the bgamaagan, and the bgamaagan is believed to be made of maple or another, similar hardwood. At the narrow end of the bgamaagan, a single hide thong is attached, knotted in place. The origins of this bgamaagan are not certain; however, it is believed to be of western Great Lakes origin and has probable connections to the Anishinaabe or Sioux. This relative is probably from the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
This relative currently resides at the National Museum of Ireland.
The style of carving of the thunderbird is reminiscent of other similar works by Anishinaabe and Sioux.
Read More About This Relative
hardwood, possibly maple, iron blade, hide thong, red paint in the carved zigzag border, greenish residue possibly also from a metal pigment
Bnesi (Thunderbird), double row of zigzags and triangular chip carving on one side. The other side has only a double row of zigzags.
Could the greenish residue be from a copper application related to underwater beings? Note from Alan Corbiere: the use of zigzags in combination with the bottom row of triangular chip carving on one side may have cosmological reference to upper world powers and earth power
David Penny had an analysis done on the iron blade of a club that may be the one described by Kohl and found that it dated from the correct time period and had been made from a carpenter's square.
Label adhered to relative: "SCIENCE & ART MUSEUM, DUBLIN / 1880 / ART / [1933?]".
Provenance
More information may be available via the Royal Dublin Society.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Name unrecorded. "Gunstock" Bgamaagan. GRASAC ID 24574. National Museum of Ireland Collection, 1880.1933.
This record was augmented by Dana Murray on July 8, 2024. It draws on images and information recorded during the GRASAC research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 22, 2010. Participants included Ruth Phillips, Alan Corbiere, Rachel Hand, Crystal Migwans, Nikolaus Stolle, and were assisted by Padraig Clancy and Emma Crosby.