container, birchbark

container, birchbark

container, birchbark

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Introduction

A birchbark container or "envelope" made by Mrs. Buckshot from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. Used to preserve dried meat, and hold meat for trapping bears. With pitcher plant sgraffito design. Field collected by Frank Speck.

Nation of Maker: Algonquin Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

Museum documentation

Place of Origin: Kitigan Zibi (River Desert)
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

GRASAC generated

Materials

birchbark; vegetable fiber; spruce root

Techniques or Format

birchbark container sewn with spruce root. Tie made of braided vegetable fiber. Sgraffito motif.

Motifs and Patterns

pitcher plant

Additional Context

Pitcher plant is floral trap

Original and Subsequent Uses

Used to trap bears

Other Notes

Speck tag: " Birch bark envelope for preserving dried meat from flies, etc. (a) also (b) for holding meat bait for bear trap or dead fall. The meat bait is put in container + hung above the trap where bear scents it + in grabbing for it springs the trap. Made by Mrs. Buckshot who in 20 years killed 57 bears. The designs are Pitcher Plants which are floral traps themselves."

Dimensions: 28 × 24 × 0 cm
Current Location: Denver Art Museum, CO, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1937.86
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1938
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Purchased from Frank Speck
Collection Narratives and Histories

Purchased from Frank Speck.

GKS Reference Number: 26083
Record Creation Context

Visit to Denver Art Museum of Alex Nahwegahbow and Ruth Phillips, assisted by Eric Berkemeyer and Kristin Strid on 21 Jan 2014

Approximate Place of Origin

46.3612, -75.9567

Source of Information about Places

Museum documentation

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