Wampum beads of shell, purple and white; animal hide

Four figures holding what appear to be bows

MQB catalogue suggests the 17th century to the early 18th century. Autumn Epple believes, based on style and materials seen in similar belts at other institutions (specifically the example of object #M1904 at the McCord Museum), that it dates from 1750 to 1790.

The ethnographic works from the Bibliothèque Nationale du France are located in the Musée du quai Branly in Paris. These ethnographic works were brought together in this collection during the French Revolution, around 1792. Many of these works came from the Jardin du Roi, the collection of the French kings. In 1792, inventories were made of the possessions of aristocratic French families in Paris and the provinces and many objects were selected to be added to the Bibliothèque Nationale, which was the national collection of the new Republic. This collection was located at the Musée d'Ethnographie de Trocadero in Paris, then the Musée de l'Homme (Paris), and now the Musée du quai Branly (Paris).

Unknown artist, wampum belt. Currently in the Musée du quai Branly, 71.1878.32.61. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip; GRASAC item id 1422.

This record was created by Anne de Stecher during an RAship for Prof. Ruth Phillips.