tumpline or burden strap

tumpline or burden strap

tumpline or burden strap

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Introduction

Burden strap or tumpline with moosehair embroidery. Haudenosaunee, made in 1710 or earlier. Acquired by Christopher Middleton in New York. Bequeathed to the British Museum by Sir Hans Sloane in 1753. Appears in John Verelst’s 1710 portraits of the "Four Indian Kings."

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

British Museum accession record states that this is "Iroquois" from New York.

Date Made or Date Range: 17 C to Early 18 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information in the British Museum object catalogue.

Materials

Made of nettlestock fibre or hemp, and white and red dyed moose hair.

Techniques or Format

Heddle woven, with braided ends. Decorated with false embroidery. Christian Feest doesn't feel it is possible to do embroidery without steel needles.

Motifs and Patterns

Geometric patterns, with predominant diagonal zig zags.

Other Notes

Coarser than other examples. The Sloane catalogue entry lists porcupine quills where it should read moosehair.

Dimensions: 52 × 0 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair condition, missing in particular the white moose hair from the internal strips.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

1710 or earlier. Part of Sloane collection. Musee de Quai Branlee has older examples. Appears on one of the 4 kings paintings.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am,SLMisc.573
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1753
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Sir Hans Sloan
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1710
Collection Narratives and Histories

Donated to the British Museum as a part of the Sloane bequest in 1753. Sloane received the strap from Capt. Christopher Middleton, who received it as a gift from Theyanoguin, Sa Ga Yean Qua Qua Rah Ton, and Oh Nee Yeath Ton No Rion, three of the four chiefs who visited England on a diplomatic trip in 1710. The strap appears in John Verelst’s paintings of the men.

Exhibition History

National Portrait Gallery, London, "Between Worlds: Voyagers to Britain, 1700-1850" March 2007.

British Museum, North American Gallery: first peoples, first contact, June 1999.

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

Based on information in the British Museum object catalogue.

GKS Reference Number: 24414
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Haudenosaunee artist, tumpline or burden strap. Currently in the British Museum, Am,SLMisc.573. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 24414.

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), Darlene Johnston (DJ), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

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