mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

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Introduction

This Anishinaabe mkak (box) is made from birchbark with a floral design made from multi-colored quillwork. It was collected 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 this relative currently resides.

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

The region is listed as "Ottawa" on the catalogue card.

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; split root (cedar or spruce); beige thread; porcupine quills natural and dyed green, purple, yellow, red, pink, purple

Techniques or Format

Uncut porcupine quills are visible inside the box, around the bottom.

Motifs and Patterns

The quillwork is done in floral motifs on the lid and sides of the mkak.

Dimensions: 20.4 × 13.6 × 9.4 cm
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

This date range is based on Gottschall's collecting activities.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 97-84-122A (box); 97-84-122A (box lid); L-84-122A-B (old museum numbers); 18079 (ANS number); I 1037 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/292009
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: 1871-1905
Collection Narratives and Histories

It was collected 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 this relative 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 1037)

GKS Reference Number: 25864
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 25864. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-122A & 97-84-122B.

Record Creation Context

This information was gathered on a visit to University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 7 2010. The researchers present were Adriana Greci-Green, David Penny, Stacey Loyer, Coralie Boeykens.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on October 29, 2024.

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