mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

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Introduction

This Anishinaabe mkak (box) is made from birchbark and decorated with quillwork. It was collected in Northern Michigan by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1905. His collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS) sometime before 1937. ANS formally gifted the collection to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1997, where it currently resides. 

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Odawa Ojibwe
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Gottschall listed this mkak as "Ottawa - Chippewa (Ojibwe)" in his catalogue.

Place of Origin: Michigan (Northern Michigan), USA
Date Made or Date Range: before 1905
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

The information in this record is based on museum documentation.

Materials

birchbark; sweetgrass; black thread; porcupine quills natural and dyed green, red, orange, pink and yellow; basswood or cedar

Techniques or Format

A round shaped box with six panels, with a flat bottom and lid. Each panel is edged with bunches of sweetgrass sewn with black thread. The handle is made from two-ply twine made from basswood or cedar, finished with two loops where it is attached to the box.

Motifs and Patterns

The quillwork is done in floral motifs on the lid and all six sides.

Other Notes

Adriana Greci-Green has heard this style of box called a "blueberry shape."

Dimensions: 16.5 × 16.5 × 10.7 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

These dates are based on Gottschall's collecting activities.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 97-84-110A (box); 97-84-110B (box lid); L-84-110A-B (old museum numbers); 18067 (ANS number); I 831 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/139705
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1997
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Gift of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1997
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1871 to 1905
Collection Narratives and Histories

This relative was collected in Northern Michigan by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1905. His collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS) sometime before 1937. ANS formally gifted the collection to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1997, where it currently resides.

Publication History

Gottschall, Amos H. Priced and Descriptive Catalogue of the Utensils, Implements, Weapons, Ornaments, Etc., of the Indians, Mound Builders, Cliff Dwellers: Typical Collections No. 1. 1909. (See: I 831)

GKS Reference Number: 25264
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 25264. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-110A & 97-84-110B.

Record Creation Context

Visit to University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 6 2010. Researchers present: Adriana Greci-Green, Stacey Loyer, Coralie Boeykens.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on August 15, 2024.

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