birch bark purse

birch bark purse

birch bark purse

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Introduction

Birch bark purse decorated with porcupine quillwork. Anishinaabeg, from Manitoulin Island. Collected by Henry Christy in 1856 and donated to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

This item came from Manitoulin Island.

Date Made or Date Range: 1856
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information found in the British Museum object catalogue.

Materials

Made of birch bark, sewn with black dyed vegetable fibre or thread. Seams are covered with black cotton tape. Decorated porcupine quills, natural and dyed blue, reddish-pink, brown.

Techniques or Format

Sewn, decorated with quillwork.

Motifs and Patterns

Quillwork in a series of panels with three flowers and buds on top and an abstract floral design on back.

Dimensions: 19 × 6.8 × 11.3 cm
Condition: Good. The colours of the dyed quills are fresh and relatively unfaded.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

It was collected in 1856.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.2604
Collection at Current Location: Christy Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1860s
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Henry Christy
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1856
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected at Manitoulin Island in 1856 by Henry Christy and donated to the British Museum between 1860 to 1869.

GKS Reference Number: 27182
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Annishinabeg artist, birch bark purse. Currently in the British Museum, Am.2604. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 27182.

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).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Darlene Johnston (DJ), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

43.3, -78.1

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