comb or scissors case, birch bark

comb or scissors case, birch bark

comb or scissors case, birch bark

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Introduction

Embroidered birch bark comb or scissors case. Huron-Wendat, from the village of Lorette. Collected in 1857 by Henry Christy, who donated it to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

Nation of Maker: Huron-Wendat
Nation of Origin

Ruth Phillips said this item is characteristic of those made by the Huron-Wendat.

Place of Origin: Wendake
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information in the British Museum accession record.

Materials

Made of birch bark and decorated with moose hair dyed pink, green, beige-yellow, black and white. Sewn with thread.

Techniques or Format

Quills have been applied with french knot stitches. There are openings at both ends.

Motifs and Patterns

Floral motifs, with interwoven checkerboard motifs along the side of the case.

Dimensions: 14 × 4.3 × 0 cm
Condition: Good.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Henry Christy visited Lorette in 1857. Ruth Phillips believes that Christy may have bought this piece himself when he was visiting Lorette.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.2610
Collection at Current Location: Christy Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1860-1869
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Henry Christy
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1857
Collection Narratives and Histories

Acquired by Henry Christy in 1857 from the Huron-Wendat, who then donated it to the British Museum between 1860 and 1869.

GKS Reference Number: 24521
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Wendat artist, comb or scissors case, birch bark. Currently in the British Museum, Am.2610. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 24521.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Darlene Johnston (DJ), Jonathan King (JK), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

46.869279102, -71.347896113

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