knife sheath

knife sheath

knife sheath

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Introduction

A knife sheath made of hide sewn with sinew and decorated with quillwork and metal cones with dyed animal hair. Possible motifs include eight parallel lines and a four quadrant image. Transferred to the museum from the Koninklijk Kabinet van Zeldzaamheden (The Royal Cabinet of Curiosities) in The Hague when it closed in 1883.

Date Made or Date Range: 1800/1880
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation, GRASAC generated

Materials

hide; porcupine quills; hide thongs; metal cones, dyed animal hair; sinew

Techniques or Format

The sheath is made of hide sewn and trimmed with sinew. The front and top are decorated with quillwork applied in zigzag band technique. Metal cones are attached to the sides and end of the sheath body with hide thongs. Two metal cones with dyed animal hair.

Motifs and Patterns

In woven quillwork - eight parallel white lines against red/orange background; possibly four quadrant image. Four tin cones on either side of the sheath.

Other Notes

Dyed animal hair may have originally been inserted in all metal cones.

Condition: Some damage to quillwork, dyed animal hair likely missing from metal cones
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Museum documentation - but based on observation it could possibly be earlier from the 18th century(?)

Current Location: Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden, Netherlands
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 360-7170
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1883
Collection Narratives and Histories

Through transfer from Royal Cabinet of Curiosities (Koninklijk Kabinet van Zeldzaamheden) in 1883

GKS Reference Number: 26026
Approximate Place of Origin

46.2, -90.9

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