wampum string

wampum string

wampum string

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Introduction

This relative, a wampum string, is composed of 45 purple and white wampum beads, made from quahog and whelk shells, strung together on natural fibre. The string is knotted at both ends, with a piece of red fibre added to the knot at one end. The beads are tubular in shape and opaque, slightly irregular in length and diameter, but with an overall consistent look typical of wampum beads made using metal tools. There are some remnants of clear glue adhered to the string. Although the origins of this relative are unclear, it has probable connections with the Eastern Woodlands region.

This relative currently resides at the Bank of Canada Museum.

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Bank of Canada catalogue records were provided to GRASAC.

Materials

shell, whelk, shell, clam, fibre / coquille, buccin, coquille, palourde, fibre

Dimensions: 24.5 × 0 × 0 cm
Current Location: Bank of Canada Museum
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1965.136.5539
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1965
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: This relative was transferred from the Public Archives of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada) to Bank of Canada, National Currency Collection in 1965.
Collection Narratives and Histories

National Currency Collection accession files: "Public Archives Collection: Canadian Historic Coins and Tokens," no 1790 Canada, Wampum string

Exhibition History

This wampum string was likely on display in the Currency Museum (now the Bank of Canada Museum) beginning in 1980. It may have been shown in Gallery 1, “Introduction to Money,” with wampum belt 1965.137.1 (also formerly in the collection of Library and Archives Canada). The remnants of hot melt glue on some of the beads are from this old mounting.

GKS Reference Number: 59185
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Wampum string. GRASAC ID 59185. Bank of Canada Museum 1965.136.5539.

Record Creation Context

This record was created by Dana Murray on August 6, 2024. This record draws on images and information provided by the Bank of Canada Museum.

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