message belt

message belt

message belt

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Introduction

A belt of netted quillwork with thunderbird motifs. Anishinaabe, made between 1700 and 1815. Previously owned by Harry Geoffrey Beasley, this item belonged to Salisbury's Blackmore Museum before it was donated to the British Museum by Mrs. Irene Marguerite Beasley in 1944.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

The thunderbird is a motif used extensively by the Anishinaabe.

Date Made or Date Range: 18 C to Early 19 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation.

Materials

Hide; thread, vegetable fibre; porcupine quills, white and dyed blue and red; metal cones; animal hair.

Techniques or Format

Strips of hide form the base of the belt. They are woven with vegetable fibre warps, creating a netting. The porcupine quills are then woven around the netting. Metal tinkle cones containing hair are attached to the ends.

Motifs and Patterns

Six diagonal lines of red and white wrapped quills separate bird motifs. There are thunderbirds on either end facing inwards, three perched eagles or fish hawks/osprey facing inward on one side and three facing inwards on the other side.

Additional Context

The belt's motifs are balanced.

Dimensions: 103 × 5.5 × 0 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Based upon construction techniques.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1944,02.226
Collection at Current Location: Beasley Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1944
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Irene Marguerite Beasley
Collection Narratives and Histories

Previously owned by Harry Geoffrey Beasley, this item belonged to Salisbury's Blackmore Museum before Mrs. Irene Marguerite Beasley donated it to the British Museum in 1944.

Publication History

JCH King, 'Thunderbird and Lightning,' (British Museum Press, 1982) p.50.

GKS Reference Number: 26264
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe artist, message belt. Currently in the British Museum, Am1944,02.226. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 26264.

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).

Approximate Place of Origin

46.8139, -71.208

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