hunting pouch

hunting pouch

hunting pouch

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Introduction

This black smoked hide bag is reminiscent of a bandolier bag in shape and style, but smaller in size. It resembles a cross-body bag, with a long strap and its shape is between a teardrop and a rectangle. There is geometric plaiting on the strap creating undulating lines of bilateral symmetry in quill or moosehair embroidery. GRASAC researchers suspect it is quill to match the body of bag. On the body of the bag is a central rondale divided into quadrants. The quillwork on either side of the rondale is reminiscent of birds flying.This relative has extraordinarily precise and fine embroidery, with exquisitely fine placement, design, and use of very small quills on the bag. There is trace evidence of a button, now missing. The quills are blue, red, and white.

The top of strap has deer hair tassels and jingle cones, attached with quill wrapped thongs. The quillwork is geometric on one side, sinuous on the other, with sinuous pieces curling in. The diamond shape curl decoration is associated with Huron Wendat. GRASAC researchers also noted the strap and rondale were more reminiscent of the Western Great Lakes.

There is a red silk ribbon that binds the top of the pouch but has disintegrated in patches, showing structural seams. There are two pieces to the bag, two pieces to the flap, and a separate two piece lining. There are two interior pockets.

This relatively currently resides at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Germany.

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee Huron-Wendat
Nation of Origin

Haudenosaunee, Huron Wendat and/or Western Great Lakes are all possible.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

The museum documentation connects this pouch to the Haudenosaunee. Stylistically, GRASAC researchers also identified characteristics associated with the Huron Wendat, and with the Western Great Lakes.

Date Made or Date Range: Late 18th to early 19th century
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and GRASAC researcher notes

Materials

hide; quill; possibly moose hair; deer hair; jingle cones

Techniques or Format

Stitching has no visible sinew but a commercial cotton/linen thread. Stitching holding red ribbon is consistent to the quillwork.

Motifs and Patterns

Top of strap has deer-hair tassels and jingle cones, attached with quill wrapped thongs. Quillwork is geometric on one side, sinous on the other, with sinous pieces curling in. Central rondale divided into quadrants.
Only five visible jingle cones on the strap, though there is evidence that there were more. However, they are only on the strap - not the pouch itself.

Additional Context

When visiting with this relative, Alan Corbiere noted that the diamond shape curl is associated with Huron Wendat, but was not entirely certain about this. He observed that the sinuous lines end in curls, which is not a feature he sees with items having an Anishinaabe or Odawa provenance. Further, Alan Corbiere observed that this bag does not have the kinds of rhombus and parallelogram designs he associates with Menominee designs. Laura Peers noted the strap and the rondale are similar to Western Great Lakes. She also observed how, on this bag, many elements have four curls that work together to form a diamond shape with a cross in the middle.

Condition: Potential repairs made to the bag. Material akin to twine used to stitch the back pieces together, meaning original hide thongs were either cut or sewn into repair. Original decorations here are lost. Laura Peers observed that this stitching is unlike that on the rest of the pouch - it is far less refined - suggesting it was a later repair, and perhaps a repair even done by the collector.
Trace evidence that a button was once present.
The inside of the button flap is backed with smooth leather. Unclear if this is a repair, and if so if it is Indigenous hide and an Indigenous repair, or commercial hide and a Conservation repair. Laura Peers noted this interior hide looks almost commercial - not like brain tanned hide.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The catalogue card indicates the bag was collected in 1834; Laura Peers and Alan Corbiere dated the bag to the late 18th century, possibly early 19th century during their visit to the Museum.

Current Location: Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Germany
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: IV-B-3
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1834
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Hadlock
Collection Narratives and Histories

The catalogue card at the Museum lists Hadlock at the Collector in 1834, and makes associations with Lewis Henry Morgan's League of the Iroquois.
The Museum's documentation also indicates this was kept in a "Kunstkammer" (a displayed collection) in California.

Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation

GKS Reference Number: 1534
Record Creation Context

Created by Nikolaus Stolle during a research visit to the museum commissioned by Ruth Phillips and supported by her research funds.
Additional photographs and information added by Cara Krmpotich on March 12, 2024, using images and research notes generated during a GRASAC visit to the Museum in May 2019. Researchers included Cara Krmpotich, Alan Corbiere, Laura Peers, Maureen Matthews, with Hannah Turner and Charles Feaver doing photography.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Edited by CJ Pentland on June 26, 2020

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