case, drum stick

Images

Full image of the red drum stick case with horizontal band and applique decorations in tan, black and plaid visible.

Close up image of one end of the drum stick case, the end that opens with the plaid ruffle. A tan chevron and black star are also visible.

An image of the closed end of the drum stick case with black, tan and plaid decorations visible.

A close up of the closed end of the drum stick case.

A full length view of the drum stick case, showing the seam running its length.

A close up of the ruffled, open end of the drum stick case, with the seam visible.

A close up of the middle section of the drum stick case, showing the seam.

A close up of the closed end of the drum stick case, showing the seam.

A close up of the open end of the drum stick case. Fingers are holding the case open to show the red fabric interior.

An image of the open end of the drum stick case, with the ruffles held back to show the end.

An image of the drum stick case with the two drum sticks it contained.

An image of the drum stick case with the larger of two drum sticks, and colour swatches.

Introduction

This ancestor is a long narrow case, or bag, made of three pieces of red wool flannel. Three ruffles (two red, one red and tan plaid) conceal the seams. There are vertical ruffles on the side seam (tan with a print of tiny gray polka dots and sprigs of heart-shaped leaves) on this ancestor. It is further decorated with horizontal bands, moving from the top downward, they include a band of black folded tape with tan ribbon and large cross stitches of tan yarn; a band of red and tan plaid; a red ruffle; and a band of red and tan plaid zigzag. The appliqued designs on this ancestor are crosses, chevrons, stars, braids, diamonds, and trapezoids in tan, black, and purple. This ancestor is currently located in the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Maker role: Artist

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe

Place of Origin: Wisconsin, USA

Date Made or Date Range: 1890s

Read More About This Relative

Materials

wool flannel, cloth, ribbon, yarn

Techniques or Format

The case is a long narrow bag made of three pieces of red wool flannel for the tube and a circular piece for the bottom. Three ruffles (two red, one red/tan plaid) conceal the seams. Vertical ruffle at side seam (tan with print of tiny gray polka dots and sprigs of heart-shaped leaves). Decorated with horizontal bands from top downward: black folded tape, tan ribbon; strands of tan yarn couched in place with large cross stitches; red/tan plaid band; red ruffle; red/tan plaid zigzag band; red ruffle; band of purple ribbon at bottom (fragments remaining).

Motifs and Patterns

Appliqued designs consist of: tan cross with pointed arms of equal length; black chevron, black four pointed star; tan chevron; five pointed star, figure of purple braid, tan diamond with black outline of rectangle superimposed; vertical row of three and one half attached diamonds (black); vertical row of attached trapezoids.

Other Notes

Case for two drum sticks, see Detroit Institute of Arts 81.522.2 and 81.522.3.

Dimensions: 23 × 4 × 1.625 in

Condition: soiled

Provenance

Current Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 81.522.1

Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://dia.org/collection/case-37760

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1981

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Richard A. Pohrt [1911-2005] (Flint, Michigan, USA)

1981-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Publication History

Ruth Phillips, 1989 Great Lakes Indian Art

Phillips, R.B. "Dreams and Designs: Iconographic Problems in Great Lakes Twined Bags." Bulletin of the DIA 62, no. 1 (1986): 26-37, fig. 19.

About This GRASAC Record

GKS Reference Number: 24629

How to Cite this Item

Unknown Maker. "Case, drum sticks" GKS ID 24629. Located in the Detroit Institute of Arts, catalogue number 81.522.1.

Record Creation Context

Original record created by David Penney. Record augmented by Natasha Fares in January 2024

Approximate Place of Origin

44.736, -88.788

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