Wristband

Wristband

Wristband

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Introduction

This relative is a Woodland Cree or Anishinaabe wristband with a woven kaawyikewin (quillwork) appliquéd band and metal cones. It was made between 1820 and 1840 and is composed of tanned animal hide and porcupine quills, including natural and dyed red, maroon and blue, and red-dyed hair, leather thong, and beige thread.The kaawyikewin geometric pattern is made up of triangles and crosses.

This relative was collected by Charles Hallowell Stephens. Stephens's whole collection was left to his son D. Owen Stephens, whose wife sold it to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1945, where this relative currently resides.

Name of Maker(s): Maker Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Sakawiyiniwask (Woodland Cree)
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

The catalogue card describes this item as Cree. The stylistic features suggest it may be Anishinaabe.

Date Made or Date Range: 1820s to 1840s
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

The catalogue card and information provided by the GRASAC research team.

Materials

Tanned animal hide; porcupine quills, white and dyed red, maroon and blue; metal tinkle cones; red-dyed hair, possibly deer; leather thong; beige thread.

Techniques or Format

It is made of three pieces, sewn together, edged with dyed porcupine quills. A panel of fine quillwork was appliqued to the centre panel. The outer panels are both double lobed, with a piece of thong added in the middle of the two lobes on both sides. On one side, the thong has a small slit in it, though which the other thong would be threaded to fasten the band.

Motifs and Patterns

The kaawyikewin geometric pattern is made up of triangles and crosses.

Dimensions: 37.5 × 8 × 0 cm
Condition: It is in good condition.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The designs on this piece are similar to those found on other documented pieces of the period.

Current Location: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 45-15-1178
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/258562
Collection at Current Location: Charles H. Stephens Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1945
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Purchased from Mrs. Owen Stephens, 1945.
Collection Narratives and Histories

This relative was collected by Charles Hallowell Stephens. His whole collection was left to his son D. Owen Stephens, whose wife sold it to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1945, where this relative currently resides.

Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation.

GKS Reference Number: 26278
How to Cite this Item

Maker, Name unrecorded. Wristband, with woven quillwork. GRASAC ID 26278. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 45-15-1178.

Record Creation Context

This information was gathered during a GRASAC study visit, participants included: David Penney, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, and William Wierzbowski, on December 3, 2009.
This record was augmented by Joy Kruse on March 29, 2025.

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