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 done in 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
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Gottschall lists this mkak at being "Ottawa" 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; basswood or cedar; porcupine quills natural and dyed green, pink and yellow.

Techniques or Format

This is a rectangular box with the lid attached down on one side. The other side has two pieces of twine made from basswood or cedar, with with tassels on the ends, probably used to close the box.

Motifs and Patterns

The quillwork is done in floral, diamond, and criss cross motifs.

Dimensions: 15.3 × 9.8 × 5.2 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: 97-84-126A (box); 97-84-126B (box lid); L-84-126A-B (old museum numbers); 18111 (ANS number); II 297 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/299700
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. 2. 1909. (See: II 297)

GKS Reference Number: 25074
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark. GRASAC ID 25074. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-126A & 97-84-126B.

Record Creation Context

Visit to University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 7 2010. Researchers present: Adriana Greci-Green, David Penny, Stacey Loyer, Coralie Boeykens.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on August 15, 2024.

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