tumpline or burden strap

tumpline or burden strap

tumpline or burden strap

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Introduction

Trumpline or burden strap. Haudenosaunee, made between 1700-1810. Donated to the British Museum by Irene Marguerite Beasley in 1944 and previously owned by her husband, British brewer and avid collector Harry Geoffrey Beasley.

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

Haudenosaunee: The GRASAC research team agreed that it looks like other straps documented as Haudenosaunee .

Date Made or Date Range: 18 C to Early 19 C
Materials

Made of dark brown nettlestock fibre or hemp and decorated with dyed moosehair and white size 6 pony beads sewn on with either nettle fibre or another type of thread.

Techniques or Format

The strap is heddle woven with braided ties. The nettlefibre has been dyed dark brown. Moosehair has been applied with the method of false embroidery.

Motifs and Patterns

Rhomboid diamond and rectangular sections are done in moosehair tapestry . There is also a line of little squares of white which almost look like a row of beads.

Condition: Fair. The strap has suffered a significant amount of bead loss.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

1700-1810, based on the strap's similarity to one depicted in the Four Kings paintings, done in 1710.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: AM1944,02.253
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Irene Marguerite Beasley
Collection Narratives and Histories

This strap was donated to the British Museum by Irene Marguerite Beasley in 1944. It was previously owned by her husband, Harry Geoffrey Beasley.

GKS Reference Number: 24484
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Haudenosaunee artist, tumpline or burden strap. Currently in the British Museum, AM1944,02.253. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 24484.

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, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184