Dublin Core
Title
Birch Bark Box
Object
container
Culture
Ojibwe
Brief Description
Round birch bark lidded box, dense white and brown quillwork of 8-pointed star on the lid, diamonds on side.
Description
Round birch bark lidded box, dense white and brown quillwork of 8-pointed star on the lid, diamonds on side.
1. Form: Much of the lid quillwork is covered in a star formation. In the center is a 8-pt. brown asterisk, measuring 2.25 inches across, within which is an offset asterisk of .75 inches across. These are surrounded by an 8-pt. white star (3 in. across), which in turn is inside of a larger 8-pt. star (approx. 5.5 in. across). This outer star is encircled by a ring of white quills. All of the spaces inside/between all of the above star points are filled in with white quills cross-hatched at an angle. Another ring of white quills outlines the edge of the lid, creating an outer band around the lid. Within this band is a repeating pattern of 7 white quills lined up vertically and bunched together in the middle by a horizontal quill. Between these are an asterisk/diamond formed by many overlapping small quills. Around the sides of the box in two bands (upper and lower) is the same pattern, except the bunched quills have 9, rather than 7, and the area between has a cross-hatched diamond of quills. Bands of sweet grass are bound around the edges of the lid and base, and in the middle where they meet, by black stitching. The inside is lined with bark to hide the quill ends.
2. Material and Color:
Bark (birch) - med. brown (R216 G168 B105) to (R210 G146 B62)
Cotton thread - black
Sweet grass - faded yellow, (R238 G219 B168) tinged with green
Quills - white to dark brown (R122 G91 B45)
3. Construction: The bark was cut, bent, and stitched into shape.
4. Decoration: Lid and sides decorated with quillwork; edges bound with sweet grass
5. Skill/Care: Very intricate, large piece. Well-made.
6. Condition: Very Good. Minimal yellowing of white quills. Price Label on the bottom.
1. Form: Much of the lid quillwork is covered in a star formation. In the center is a 8-pt. brown asterisk, measuring 2.25 inches across, within which is an offset asterisk of .75 inches across. These are surrounded by an 8-pt. white star (3 in. across), which in turn is inside of a larger 8-pt. star (approx. 5.5 in. across). This outer star is encircled by a ring of white quills. All of the spaces inside/between all of the above star points are filled in with white quills cross-hatched at an angle. Another ring of white quills outlines the edge of the lid, creating an outer band around the lid. Within this band is a repeating pattern of 7 white quills lined up vertically and bunched together in the middle by a horizontal quill. Between these are an asterisk/diamond formed by many overlapping small quills. Around the sides of the box in two bands (upper and lower) is the same pattern, except the bunched quills have 9, rather than 7, and the area between has a cross-hatched diamond of quills. Bands of sweet grass are bound around the edges of the lid and base, and in the middle where they meet, by black stitching. The inside is lined with bark to hide the quill ends.
2. Material and Color:
Bark (birch) - med. brown (R216 G168 B105) to (R210 G146 B62)
Cotton thread - black
Sweet grass - faded yellow, (R238 G219 B168) tinged with green
Quills - white to dark brown (R122 G91 B45)
3. Construction: The bark was cut, bent, and stitched into shape.
4. Decoration: Lid and sides decorated with quillwork; edges bound with sweet grass
5. Skill/Care: Very intricate, large piece. Well-made.
6. Condition: Very Good. Minimal yellowing of white quills. Price Label on the bottom.
Dimension 1
8" W
Dimension 2
8" D
Dimension 3
2.5" H
Material
bark(birch) fiber(sweet grass) cotton quill(porcupine)
Construction
cut bent stitched
Decoration
quillwork wrapped(fiber)
Condition
V GOOD discol lbl
Source
Ostrom, Elinor -bequest
Collector
Ostrom, Elinor and Vincent
Accession Number
MM249.093
Old Number
MM249.093 CAC#LS-05 OC#198
Type
artifact
State
Ontario
Country
Canada
Continent
North America
Provenance
This item is from the collections of the Mathers Museum of World Cultures.