dewe'gan drum

dewe'gan drum

dewe'gan drum

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Introduction

The relative is a drum, dewe'gan, of Ojibwa origin. Vivid imagery is depicted on both the front and reverse surfaces of the drum. Painted on the front are three warriors and a thunderbird seen standing over the horizon. On the reverse side is a circle with stars around a sun against a red background. The drum is made of deer hide, and wool felt. The imagery is painted in red, green and black and brown paint.

The dewe'gan currently resides in the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

Ojibwa

 

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

DIA records

Place of Origin: Minnesota or Wisconsin, USA
Date Made or Date Range: 1875
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

DIA records

Materials

The drum is made from hide, paint, wool, felt, and brass tacks.

Motifs and Patterns

The front of the drum exhibits painted imagery of three warriors and a thunderbird standing above a horizon line. A circle with stars around a sun against a red background are seen on the reverse side.

Dimensions: 48.9 × 48.9 × 0 cm
Condition: There is a tear on the surface of the drum that has been stitched over on the reverse side.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The DIA records the drum as being from circa 1875.

Current Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 2006.24
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://dia.org/collection/drum-95192
Collection at Current Location: Richard Pohrt, Jr. Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 2006
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Richard Pohrt, Jr
Collection Narratives and Histories

The drum was formerly in the collection of Richard McAllister, Wisconsin.

Source for Provenance information

DIA records

Exhibition History

Arts of the Great Lakes Indians, Flint Institute of Arts

Publication History

Art of the Great Lakes Indians. Exhibition catalogue. Flint Institute of Arts. Flint, MI, 1973, No. 504

GKS Reference Number: 25506
How to Cite this Item

Unknown maker. "dewe'gan drum" GRASAC ID 25506. Located in the Detroit Institute of Arts, catalogue number 2006.24

Record Creation Context

This record was augmented by Shamina Vastani in January 2024.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

The heritage item was de-installed and photographed by Kelly Konieczki while on exhibit at the DIA, prior to the team's visit. All discussion during the GRASAC visit was captured exclusively on video by Crystal Migwans during a walk-through of the galleries. Members did not have access to internet/GKS at the time to enter information.

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