box

box

box

top image
Images
Introduction

Birch bark box with lid, decorated on all sides (except bottom) with floral design in dyed moose-hair embroidery. Part of a wedding gift given to George and Emily Johnson, 1854.

Nation of Maker: Huron-Wendat
Nation of Origin

Catalog record

Place of Origin: Wendake
Date Made or Date Range: 1854
Materials

Birch bark, moose hair, black thread, pink silk lining (currently there is a conservation liner inside the box that hides the lining on the sides).

Techniques or Format

From catalog record: "Birchbark embroidered in satin stitch and french knots with dyed moose hair, with interior wall and fitted lid. On each side of box (a) a rectangular panel with a scrolling or meandering branch, each side decorated with different flowers: Edges and corners edged with couched white moose hair. Lid (b) with large floral spray on top with simple frame of small repeating leaves. On each side a line of flower sprays forming a border. Each side different. Edges and corners edged with couched moose hair. base of box lined with thin red silk over padding. Sides same."

Motifs and Patterns

Floral

Description of Writing/Text

Pencil inscription on the bottom. "Evelyn S. Johnson Chiefswood Tuscarora C.W. [Canada West] November 1854 [year of marriage of George and Emily]

Dimensions: 24.5 × 23 × 11 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Catalog record

Current Location: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 922.1.83 a-b
Collection at Current Location: Evelyn Johnson/Chiefswood Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1922
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Received from Miss Evelyn H.C. Johnson 30 November 1922.
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1854
Previous Collectors: Mr. and Mrs. George H.M. Johnson
Collection Narratives and Histories

This is a wedding present given to George and Emily Johnson by Wendat from Lorette.

GKS Reference Number: 45130
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Huron-Wendat artist, birch bark box with lid. Currently in the Royal Ontario Museum, 922.1.83 a-b. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip October 2014; GRASAC item id 45130.

Record Creation Context

Visit to Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, ON) of Ruth Phillips, Heidi Bohaker, Paula Whitlow, Alexandra Nahwegahbow and Wahsontiio Cross, assisted by Trudy Nicks and Molly Minnick on 27-29 October 2014.

Approximate Place of Origin

46.869279102, -71.347896113

Source of Information about Places

Catalog record

Do You Have Knowledge to Contribute? Share with Us.