mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

mkak, box, birchbark

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Introduction

This rectagular Anishinaabe mkak (box) is made from wiigwaas (birchbark) with a floral design made from kaawyikewin (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)

Gottschall's catalogue lists the nation as "Ottawa."

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

Techniques or Format

Lid: the top and sides are attached together with beige thread. Thin split cedar or spruce root lies under the quill criss-cross edging. The bottom edge of the lid has a line of split root lashed with thinner split root. A row of chained diamonds in purple quills decorates the sides of the lid. The outer piece is tacked together at the side with natural porcupine quills. It is also sewn to the insert with thread.

Natural quills have been used to tack down the lid and on the base.

Box: The box has an insert (horizontal grain) made from a different type of birchbark than the outer layer (vertical grain). The rim of the insert is reinforced by an ash splint sewn down with beige thread. The outer layer is edged on the top and bottom with split root tacked down with porcupine quills (natural) on the top, as well as on the bottom. The bottom was also sewn down first with beige thread, with the tacking over top.

Rectangular form with rounded corners.

Motifs and Patterns

The kaawyikewin is done in floral motifs and chained diamonds.

Dimensions: 14.8 × 9.2 × 10 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: 97-84-129A (box); 97-84-129B (box lid); L-84-129A-B (old museum numbers); 18083 (ANS number); I 1676 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/329297
Collection at Current Location: Amos H. Gottschall Collection
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 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 1676)

GKS Reference Number: 26472
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 26472. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-129A & 97-84-129B.

Record Creation Context

This information was gathered during a research visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 6, 2010.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on December 7, 2024.

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