mtignaagan bowl

mtignaagan bowl

mtignaagan bowl

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Introduction

This small mtignaagan, wooden bowl, is crafted from maple burl. It is circular, with shallow sides and a nearly flat bottom. It is connected to Cross Village. It's small size suggests to GRASAC researchers it was likely for personal use (whether for tobacco, medicine or an offering), or may have been a child's feast dish. This relative currently resides at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

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

DIA Records

Place of Origin: Michigan, USA
Date Made or Date Range: 1880
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Detroit Institute of Arts records and GRASAC researcher notes.

Materials

maple burl

Techniques or Format

Circular wooden bowl with shallow sides and nearly flat bottom.

Additional Context

David Penney observed that this size of bowl is sometimes referred to as "medicine bowls," used by medicine people to divine future. Alan Corbiere observed that the relative is too small for a tobacco bowl, but could be used for a personal tobacco bowl. Darlene Johnson observed that this mtignaagan could be a spirit bowl for offerings when fasting or during other ceremonial occasions. Alternatively, she thought it could possibly a child's feast bowl.

Dimensions: 4.625 × 4.5 × 1.125 in
Condition: serious crack from rim to center.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

DIA records

Current Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 81.115
Collection at Current Location: Mary B. Shurtleff Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1981
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Richard A. Pohrt
Collection Narratives and Histories

Formerly in the collection of: Mary B. Shurtleff, Cross Village, Michigan.

GKS Reference Number: 27013
Record Creation Context

This record was augmented by Cara Krmpotich on January 30 2024. The images of the mtignaagan were removed to respect an agreement between the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Anishinaabeg Communities of Practice group.

Approximate Place of Origin

45.641463865086, -85.038579314014

Source of Information about Places

DIA Records

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