knife sheath

knife sheath

knife sheath

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Introduction

Knife sheath. Anishinaabeg or Huron-Wendat. Donated to the British Museum by Henry Christy between 1860 and 1869.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Huron-Wendat
Nation of Origin

Anishinaabeg or Huron-Wendat, based on style.

Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created with information from the British Museum accession record and observations made by the GRASAC research team.

Materials

Made of blackened or black-dyed deer hide, porcupine quills in red faded to orange, yellow, white, red cotton tape edging, red and blue dyed animal hair, sinew, metal cones and red silk ribbon.

Techniques or Format

Made of two pieces of hide of the same size. Decorated with quillwork and metal tinkle cones.

Motifs and Patterns

Zig zag band of gold quill work, with a double inward curve motifs with form diamonds with an oval at the bottom, with two double curves coming up, and small circular rosettes.

Additional Context

RP said that the imagery could represent a horned being of some kind.
DJ noted that it looks more like a floral motif.

Dimensions: 49 × 4.5 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair. The back side is torn off.
Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am,St.779
Collection at Current Location: Christy Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1860s
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Henry Christy
Collection Narratives and Histories

Donated to the British Museum by Henry Christy between 1860 and 1869.

GKS Reference Number: 25829
How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, knife sheath. Currently in the British Museum, Am,St.779. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25829.

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), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

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