Wristband, with woven quillwork

Wristband, with woven quillwork

Wristband, with woven quillwork

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Introduction

Woodland Cree or Anishinaabe wrist band with woven quilled appliquéd band. Made between 1820 and 1840. Part of the Charles H. Stephens collection, this item was acquired by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1945.

Nation of Maker: Sakawiyiniwask (Woodland Cree)
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

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

Date Made or Date Range: 1820s-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

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 geometric pattern is made up of triangles and crosses.

Condition: Good.
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
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1945
Collection Narratives and Histories

Part of the Charles H. Stephens collection, it was acquired by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1945. There is no record of Owen's source or date of acquisition.

GKS Reference Number: 26278
Record Creation Context

GRASAC study visit, participants: David Penney, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, William Wierzbowski, December 3, 2009

Approximate Place of Origin

43.3, -78.1

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