wampum strings

wampum strings

wampum strings

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Introduction

Two strings of purple wampum beads. Algonquin, made between 1600 and 1865. Donated to the British Museum in 1869 by the museum keeper, Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks. In 1868 Franks acquired the strings, along with several other items, from a dealer in Germany named Umlauff.

Nation of Maker: Algonquin
Nation of Origin

The British Museum object catalogue states that the strings are of Algonquian origin.

Date Made or Date Range: 17 C to Late 19 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created with information from the British Museum accession record.

Materials

Wampum beads, mostly purple but a few have some white sides, strug upon a twine made of vegetable fibre.

Techniques or Format

The beads are strung upon the vegetable twine, with knots at both ends of [b] but only at one end of [a]. There are 60 beads on one string and 19 on the other. The beads are quite cylindrical but are of uneven lengths. On the larger string the beads were strung from large to small. According to the British Museum object catalogue, it is possible that one or both of the pieces have been restrung after they were collected.

Motifs and Patterns

There are notes in the string. 28-10-22 from top on 60 bead strand.

Additional Context

The GRASAC research tem thought the wampum strings could be ornaments. AC suggested the longer string might be a necklace. JM reminded us that sometimes the strings could be presented looped around a hand. The British Museum object catalogue suggests the two strings were probably originally in one string.

Other Notes

miigis (shells)-- miigisaabiigan (belt)-- miigisaabii (string)-- the suffix "-aabii" means "a string or rope like quality" (AC)

Dimensions: 23 × 0 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair. One piece may be broken or incomplete.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

According to the British Museum's object catalogue, these strings were produced between 1600 and 1865.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am.5220.a-b
Collection at Current Location: Christy Collection
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Umlauff
Collection Narratives and Histories

Donated to the British Museum by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks, the institution's keeper, in 1869. Franks acquired the strings, along with several other items, from a dealer named Umlauff when visiting Germany in 1868. They were originally owned by collector and ethnologist Henry Christy.

GKS Reference Number: 25015
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Algonquin artist, wampum strings. Currently in the British Museum, Am.5220.a-b. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25015.

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), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Alan Corbiere (AC), Henrietta Lidchi (HL), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

45.8, -83.9

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