box, quilled

box, quilled

box, quilled

top image
Introduction

A round lidded quilled box made around 1995 by Kathy VanDeCar, of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The lid has a profile head of a man in a feathered bonnet. Purchased by Frances Vincent in 1995, in Michigan, for Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Name of Maker(s): Kathy VanDeCar
Nation of Maker: Odawa
Nation of Origin

Signed on the bottom of the quilled box

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

The artist is from Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, Harbor Springs, Michigan

Date Made or Date Range: 1990 to 1995
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Materials

birchbark; porcupine quills, natural and dyed red, brown, and black; sweetgrass; nylon thread.

Techniques or Format

A round, lidded box, fully lined with birchbark. The liner is cut in a scalloped contour in both the top and bottom. Sweetgrass is bound around the inner edge of the box. The box is decorated with porcupine quillwork.

Motifs and Patterns

The head of man in a feather bonnet, in profile.

Original and Subsequent Uses

made for sale

Other Notes

"The artist learned the art of quillwork from her mentor Donald Naganashe, an Ottawa master quillworker" - note from MAA database

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

It was purchased in 1995, probably from the artist.

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1995.345 A-B
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1995
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1995
Collection Narratives and Histories

Purchased by Frances Vincent in Michigan. She was a temporary curatorial and display assistant at Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. It was purchased through the Crowther Beynon Fund.

GKS Reference Number: 24963
How to Cite this Item

Kathy VanDeCar, box, quilled. Currently in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1995.345 A-B. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip May 2009; GRASAC item id 24963.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a GRASAC research trip to Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 4-9 2009.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Participants: Trudy Nicks, Laura Peers, Alison Brown, Sherry Farrell-Racette, Rachel Hand, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, and Amber Berson.

Approximate Place of Origin

43.7918, -84.2994