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Introduction

Birch bark box, decorated with porcupine quillwork. Anishinaabeg, from Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, made before 1860. Collected around 1856 by Henry Christy and donated to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

This item was acquired by Henry Christy from Manitoulin Island.

Place of Origin: Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory
Date Made or Date Range: Mid 19 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information in the British Museum's online catalogue.

Materials

The box is made of birch bark, decorated with porcupine quills, natural and dyed light and dark blue, red, green.

Motifs and Patterns

A bird motif with a smoky-coloured stripe design on his sides is surrounded by three circles, possibly berry motifs. Below the bird is a single floral motif with leaves on either side.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Henry Christy went to Canada around 1857.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.2606.a
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: 1850s
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected from Manitoulin Island by Henry Christy around 1856 or 1857. Donated to the British Museum between 1860 to 1869.

GKS Reference Number: 25415
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabeg artist, box. Currently in the British Museum, Am.2606.a. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25415.

Record Creation Context

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Henrietta Lidchi (HL), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

45.7171, -81.6848

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