Materials

tanned, smoked hide, porcupine quill (range-red, black, natural, white and green), orange-dyed hair, metal cones, glass beads, yarn (green, lime green), sinew

Techniques or Format

Techniques of applying quills are zigzag band and simple line. Quill edging on all edges.

Motifs and Patterns

Bag and flap fronts are decorated with porcupine quillwork in transverse bands and diagonal lines (latter between two lower bands).Carrying strap has small white glass beads strung on sinew interwoven in zigzag line and diamond patterns.

Other Notes

Pouch, made from tanned, smoked skin, with back longer than front, forming a flap closure over top. Lower edge of flap is waved, with tassels of orange-dyed hair and metal cones attached in pairs. Similar tassels are attached in line across bottom edge. Second panel attached under the flap. Strap seems too short for a bandolier, maybe worn on front.
At top of bag, under flap, are attached two transverse, overlapping bands of skin (lower edge of uppermost band has scalloped edge trimmed with white glass beads). Incorrect on CMC record card that second panel under the flap is dyed dark (it is not). Outside edges of applied bands are trimmed with alternated, tubular, white and black glass beads.
Carrying strap is of hard-textured, tightly finger-woven yarn. Yarn colour is olive green, with edges in lime green. Finger-womven yarn and beads strap probably was dark green and yellow (now faded). Ends of sash are braided, then twisted together to form fringe. Sewn with sinew.

Dimensions: 148 × 9 × 0 cm

Condition: good; slight damage to quillwork, loss of one tassel, some damage to sash (fraying and fading)

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

1780 C;;

Current Location: Canadian Museum of History, Ottawa, Canada

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: III-X-280

Collection at Current Location: Speyer Collection

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1973

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: A. Speyer

Collection Narratives and Histories

(DOCUMENTATION) (from Speyer, via Ted Brasser, National Museum of Man, Ottawa) Formerly in the collection of Sir John Caldwell. Caldwell was 5th Baronet, Castle Caldwell, County Fermanagh, Ireland. He served from 1774-1780 during the American Revolution as an officer in the 8th Regiment on Foot. He was stationed briefly at Niagara, then sent to Fort Detroit. Was made a chief of the Ojibwa and given the name Appato, The Runner. Took part in a council at the Shawnee village of Wakeetomike on Jan. 17,1780; and supposedly councilled with Munsee, Delaware, Iroquois, Shawnee, Huron,Illini. A few pieces from his collection are in the Liverpool Mus. and they also have a complete set of color slides of the entire coll. (as does the Horniman Mus.)
Note: Caldwell was 5th baronet, castle caldwell, county Fermangah, Ireland.*

Sources to Learn More

Benndorf and Speyer (1968)
*Source of biographical data: Oswald, A. "Sniterton Hall, Derbyshire. the Home of Mr and Mrs. Bagshawe," Country Life, 2 Feb 1961, p. 228-31.

GKS Reference Number: 24397