staff

staff

staff

top image
Images
Introduction

An 18th century ceremonial dance wand with an incised horn or antler upper component and quill wrapped handle. Probably attributable to the Anishinaabe on the basis of the incised and quill-wrapped motifs. Formerly in the Leverian Museum in London where it was depicted in a watercolour by Sarah Stone, it was purchased in 1806 from Rowe (a parson from Bristol) at the sale of the Leverian Collection. Acquired in 1922 by the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, through Louis C. G. Clarke, who purchased it from Arthur Holdsworth at the Widdicombe House.

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

Based on style: the contrasting motifs on the two sides of the antler component are typical of Anishinaabe approaches to design.

Date Made or Date Range: 1750 to 1800
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Materials

wood; bone or antler; porcupine quillls, natural and dyed red and black; metal tinkle cones; woolen yarn tassels; woolen or hemp yarn braided and quillwrapped long tassels; ochre-painted hide

Techniques or Format

The handle, possibly made of bone or antler, is incised, There are long woolen or hemp tassels made of a complex braid, which may be commercial rope. The stem is quill-wrapped, and there is a wrap of hide under the quill wrapping and over the wooden stem. Some commercial linen thread is visible at each end of the quill wrapping.

Motifs and Patterns

On the bone or antler handle: incized zigzags on one side, x motifs on another side, parallel lines on final side, all lines enclosing dots. The wrapping has slipped out of original alignment and the patterns no longer clear but may have included thunderbird hourglass and stepped designs.

Additional Context

Ruth Phillips notes that the hourglass form in the quill wrapped portion was probably once clearer and probably related to thunderbird imagery. The zigzags on the antler may be power lines.

Condition: Fair. The quill wrapping v is loose at one end.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Most 18th century northeastern collections were made by the British military personnel in North America from the 1750s through to the early 19th century. This item was in the Leverian Museum at the end of the 18th century.

Current Location: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1922.976
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1922
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: before 1806
Collection Narratives and Histories

Acquired by the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1922, through Louis C. G. Clarke, who purchased it from Arthur Holdsworth at the Widdicombe House. Previously in the Leverian Museum, it was purchased in 1806 from Rowe (a parson from Bristol) at the sale of the Leverian Collection.

Sources to Learn More

See J.C.H. King, 'Woodlands art as depicted by Sarah Stone in the collection of Sir Ashton Lever,' American Indian Art Magazine 18(2) (1991), pp 35-45.

GKS Reference Number: 25894
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe artist, staff, for ceremonial dance?. Currently in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1922.976. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip May 2009; GRASAC item id 25894.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a GRASAC research trip to Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 4-9 2009.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Trudy Nicks, Stacey Loyer, Ruth Phillips, and Rachel Hand.

Do You Have Knowledge to Contribute? Share with Us.