Materials

Made of medium-brown smoked deer hide, porcupine quills dyed red, black, yellow and white, metal (copper) cones, red dyed deer hair and thread.

Techniques or Format

The sheath is made from two pieces of hide. The front has a panel of netted quillwork at the top, folded zig zag quillwork down the centre and single stitch quillwork on either side. The outer edges have braided edge banding. A row of tinkle cones containing tufts of red dyed deer hair decorate the front flap and two are attached to the bottom. The strap is formed of six quill-wrapped thongs bound together and wrapped with a loop at the top.

Motifs and Patterns

Geometric motifs.

Other Notes

RP notes that the strap is unusual.

Dimensions: 22.5 × 4.7 × 0 cm

Condition: Fair. Quills are missing on the front and some metal tinkle cones appear to have fallen off.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

1750-1815 - Manufacture techniques and style.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.2587

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

Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: before 1860

Collection Narratives and Histories

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

GKS Reference Number: 24717

How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, knife sheath. Currently in the British Museum, Am.2587. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 24717.

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