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 porcupine quills and sweetgrass. It was collected by Amos H. Gottschall between 1871 and 1902 in Northern Michigan. Upon his death, his collection was likely left to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANS). The 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 Ojibwe
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Gottschall's catalogue lists the mkak as "Chippewa" (Ojibwe).

Place of Origin: Michigan (Northern Michigan), USA
Date Made or Date Range: before 1914
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

The information in this record is based on museum documentation.

Materials

birch bark; porcupine quills natural, purple, pink, green, yellow and orange; sweetgrass; white thread; beige thread; split root (cedar or spruce).

Techniques or Format

The box is made of birchbark. The bottom birchbark panel is covered in porcupine quills, attached to the inner insert. This bottom panel is made of birch bark that has a horizontal grain, whereas the insert has a verticals grain. Above this quilled panel there is a single piece of split root tacked down at intervals with purple quills. The lid is edged with a line of split root, followed by a panel of quills similar to the box. The top rim of the box is edged with bunched sweetgrass, sewn down with white thread.
There are double tacks of porcupine quills on the bottom of the box and on the lid.

Motifs and Patterns

Quillwork is done in floral motifs and stripes.

Dimensions: 14.4 × 9.4 × 6.6 cm
Condition: Some missing and broken quills.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Gottschall's catalogue ranges from 1871 to 1902.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 97-84-164A (box); 97-84-164B (box lid); L-84-164A-B (old museum numbers); 18064 (ANS number); II 311 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/245717
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: 1880 to 1914
Collection Narratives and Histories

In May of 1914 the Gottschall collection was accessioned by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP). Lent to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1936, and formally gifted in 1991 or 1992.

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. 2. 1909. (See: II 311)

GKS Reference Number: 24697
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 24697. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-164A & 97-84-164B.

Record Creation Context

Visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 6 2010.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on August 10, 2024.

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