birchbark; porcupine quills, natural and dyed green, red and purple; sweetgrass; commercial thread in possibly grey and beige;

This container is made of birchbark that is fully decorated with quillwork. Sweetgrass wrapped with beige commercial thread is secured along the bottom of the lid to form a trim. The quillwork on the body of the container only goes up half-way along the sides, allowing the lid to fit securely over top. Both the lid and body of the quill box are lined with separate pieces of fitted birchbark secured on the trims with grey commercial thread.

Purple and red four-petalled flower or quatrefoil with four green leaves against a white background. The image could also possibly be an eight-pointed star (?)

Quatrefoils may be a possible adaptation of the wild rose which grew vastly throughout Anishinaabe territory; four-petalled flowers may be possible indication of the four-quadrants. (See: Frances Densmore, "Chippewa Customs", Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 86, Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1929, pp 186).

Special technique on the cutting of the birchbark lining so it fits tightly inside, see photos.

Museum documentation

Pieter Hovens