scroll, birchbark (letter)

scroll, birchbark (letter)

scroll, birchbark (letter)

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Introduction

A birch bark scroll with an ink inscription in French and wampum bead pendants sewn on the corners. Given by the Huron-Wendat of Lorette to Princess Louise, the wife of the Governor General of Canada, the Marquess of Lorne, on August 22, 1883.

Nation of Maker: Huron-Wendat
Nation of Origin

Self-identified.

Place of Origin: Wendake
Date Made or Date Range: 1883
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information in the British Museum's object catalogue.

Materials

Birch bark; ink; unsmoked animal hide, likely deer; wampum; cotton thread

Techniques or Format

A birch bark sheet with an ink inscription upon it. Attached to each corner is a small piece of unsmoked animal hide (likely deer) and wampum bead pendants sewn with cotton thread. Starting from the top right corner, counting from the inside out, the bead combinations are as follows: 1: PWWW, 2: WPW, 3: WWPWW, 4: WPWW.

Dimensions: 35 × 35 × 0 cm
Condition: Good. The ink is faded.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The date of this scroll's presentation was August 22, 1883.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1887,1208.19
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1887
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: after 1883
Collection Narratives and Histories

Given by the Huron-Wendat of Lorette to Princess Louise, the wife of the Marquess of Lorne, Canada's Governor General, on August 22, 1883. Purchased by the British Museum from John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll, in 1887.

Publication History

J.C.H. King 'Thunderbird and Lightning,' 1982, pp.66-7.

GKS Reference Number: 26571
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Huron-Wendat artist, scroll, birchbark (letter). Currently in the British Museum, Am1887,1208.19. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 26571.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, Dec.8-22, 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunity fund of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Jonathan King (JK), Henrietta Lidchi (HL), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

46.869279102, -71.347896113

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