medicine pouch

medicine pouch

medicine pouch

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Introduction

Pouch, possibly medicine pouch, possibly from Plains.

Nation of Maker: Plains Ojibwe
Materials

Body: hide, thin (most likely deer, possibly caribou), cones: metal, tassels: deer, moose or caribou hair or possibly horse hair or porcupine hair, decorative elements: quillwork

Techniques or Format

Hide: unsmoked, home tanned, sewing: seams are on the inside (Cory says not typical for Native sewing), hair on cones: hair is drawn up into the cone, has been folded in half, dyed red, decorative elements: quillwork, done with cotton thread, folded and tacked

Additional Context

Pouch was originally sewn closed, likely a medicine pouch

Other Notes

Cory and Ruth: Blue dye was very unstable, the original blue, and red have faded to light blue (for the hourglass) and orange for the body. On-site researchers: more like to be from the plains, possibly used to hold medicine because of its size and the fact that it wasn't designed to open in a normal way; Cory and Laura: the folded quillwork is typical of Plains, possibly Lakota: Cory: possible that Anishinaabe could have used a Plains stich. Tabs "like upside down ears" are also more typical of Plains; Ruth: The tassels are thicker than is typical of Anishinaabe work. Also the wider neck of the hourglass is characteristic of the Plains

Condition: Good condition, but faded, no apparent evidence of use
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: A.1890.486
GKS Reference Number: 24687
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Plains artist, medicine pouch. Currently at National Museums Scotland, A.1890.486. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007 in which the author took part; GRASAC item id 24687

Record Creation Notes/Observations

9 Apr 2007 Ruth Phillips, On-site researchers: Cory Willmott, Heidi Bohaker, Laura Peers, Ruth Phillips, Keith Jamieson, Alan Corbiere, Henrietta Lidchi, Robert Storrie, Chantal Knowles, Brenda McGoff

Approximate Place of Origin

42.7, -92.2