English broadcloth skirt

English broadcloth skirt

English broadcloth skirt

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Introduction

Woolen broadcloth skirt with panels of silk ribbonwork appliqué in a version of the otter tail motif. Main body of the skirt is one panel with ribbonwork along the bottom, and is seamed with a separate narrow panel supporting the band of vertical ribbonwork. Made of materials stated to have been presented to Anishinaabe Chief Kiagesis for his wife in 1793 by order of King George III. Dr. Oronhyatekha Ethnology collection.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

Made of materials presented to Anishinaabe Chief Kiagesis for his wife by King George III

Date Made or Date Range: 1793
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

GRASAC generated

Materials

Dark blue woolen broadcloth, very fine quality; silk ribbon not wider than an inch wide, in red, green, yellow, blue, creanm light blue, salmon pink, dark blue, gold-brown,beige,linen thread

Techniques or Format

Main body of the skirt is one unseamed panel, with a separate narrow panel sewn to the body to make a tubular form. This narrow panel supports the vertical panel of ribbonwork.

Motifs and Patterns

An elaborate version of the otter tail motif, made up of arc contours and passages of small mosaics of squares

Additional Context

Blue broadcloth skirt with panels of silk ribbonwork applique made of materials presented to Chief Kiagesis Chippewa [Anishinaabe] for his wife "by order King George III"

Other Notes

CW: The high quality broadcloth has a beautiful soft velvety nap, the relatively narrow silk ribbon is diagnostic of Ojibwa. People further west in the great lakes used wider ribbon.

Sevalges have been cut off the fabric. The single piece is 47" which is five quarters plus two inches. Usually six quarters would be sold (54 inches)

Dimensions: 0 × 66.5 × 87.5 mm
Condition: Water damage on the silk applique and the central panel of the ribbonwork has conservation netting sewn over it.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Oronhyatekha catalogue gives date for presentation of materials. Style of ribbonwork consistent with a late 18th century date.

Current Location: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 911.3.78
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1911
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Independent Order of Foresters
Publication History

F. Barlow Cumberland, Catalogue and Notes of the Oronhyatekha Historical Collection, (Toronto: Independent Order of Foresters, 1904) p 34,

Item 160. "English broadcloth skirt, decorated with bands of coloured silk, presented to Chief Kiagesis Chippewa for his wife, 1793 by order George III."

GKS Reference Number: 1570
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe artist, English broadcloth skirt. Currently in the Royal Ontario Museum, 911.3.78. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2008; GRASAC item id 1570.

Record Creation Context

GRASAC team research trip to the Royal Ontario Museum, December 15-19, 2009. Heidi Bohaker, Alan Corbiere, Lewis Debassige, Anne De Stecher, Judy Harris (Dec 16-17) Darlene Johnston, Stacey Loyer, Trudy Nicks, Ruth Phillips, Tracey Forste.

Monday Dec 15, Ethnology collection team: Alan Corbiere, Lewis Debassige, Trudy Nicks, Cory Willmott, Ruth Phillips, and Anne de Stecher with the assistance of Tracy Forster

Approximate Place of Origin

44.736, -88.788

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