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Robe
Robe
Robe
This relative, a tanned smoked hide robe, is embroidered with porcupine quills and lead cones. Although the precise origins of this robe as not certain, it is likely of Central Great Lakes origin dating from before 1880.
This relative currently resides in the National Museum of Ireland.
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, ON: Patterns of Power, 1984.
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, ON: Patterns of Power, 1984.
Read More About This Relative
Tanned, smoked hide; porcupine quills, red, natural white, black; lead cones
Quill work in simple line and zigzag band stitches; quill-wrapped self fringe.
The geometric motifs are drawn from the common vocabulary of Great Lakes imagery referring to the great cosmic spirits. The robes may have been worn by shamans and used in the ritual instruction of Midewiwin Society initiates (Patterns of Power).
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, ON: Patterns of Power, 1984.
Provenance
National Museum of Ireland documentation.
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg,On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Name unrecorded. Robe. GRASAC ID 1326. National Museum of Ireland Collection NMI 1880.1894.
This record was augmented by Dana Murray on August 17, 2025. It draws on images and information recorded in Ruth Phillips's book, Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, ON: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.