mkak, box, birchbark and sweetgrass

mkak, box, birchbark and sweetgrass

mkak, box, birchbark and sweetgrass

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Introduction

This truncated pyramid Anishinaabe mkak (box) is made from wiigwaas (birchbark) with a floral design made from kaawyikewin (quillwork) and a handle made from braided sweetgrass. 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 Ojibwe
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Gottschall lists this item as "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

birch bark; sweetgrass; black thread; strings of twisted inner cedar; porcupine quills dyed magenta, green, natural.

Techniques or Format

There is a sweetgrass binding along all the edges and a braided sweetgrass handle. The handle attaches to the mkak with two loops, which is perhaps referred to as a "frog" handle. There is also a tassel on one side.

Truncated pyramid in form.

Motifs and Patterns

The kaawyikewin was done in pink flower motifs on all sides.

Dimensions: 11 × 10.7 × 7.3 cm
Condition: The kaawyikewin has largely deteriorated.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Gottshall collected during this period.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 97-84-113 (UPenn number); L-84-113 (old museum number); 18009 (ANS number); II 293 (Gottschall number)
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/310555
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. 2. 1909. (See: II 293)

GKS Reference Number: 26976
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Mkak, box, birchbark and sweetgrass. GRASAC ID 26976. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 97-84-113.

Record Creation Context

This information was gathered during a research visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 5, 2010.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on January 12, 2025.

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