Materials

birch bark, dyed quills (faded), cotton thread, spruce root

Techniques or Format

round lidded quilled box lined with birch bark (looks unfinished) loosely sewn to sides with cotton thread, bottom is sewn to the sides with cotton thread; bottom and top of box is rimmed with spruce root tacked with porcupine quills, as with rim of lid

Motifs and Patterns

top of lid has floral designs in porcupine quills with representation of beaver in centre; geometric diamonds with cross-hatched filling

Other Notes

loose bark splints in between lining and body (unknown purpose)

Condition: fair, looks unfinished; dyed quills faded to white -- original colours are still visible on the quill ends inside the lid (purple & green for flowers; brown and purple for beaver)

Current Location: National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. USA

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: E211033

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 27 June 1901

GKS Reference Number: 25741