Square bag with short rectangular flap decorated on one side with quillwork in a geometric design with human figures and edged with metal tubes.

Collection type: Object
Description: Square bag with short rectangular flap decorated on one side with quillwork in a geometric design with human figures and edged with metal tubes.
Long description: Square bag with short rectangular flap. The front is decorated with red, black and cream quillwork in a geometric design, although there are representations of human figures at the centre of the main design (X 2), and along the length of the flap (8). The lower edge of the bag is decorated with short metal tubes, which are attached with short lengths of string, and there are four hanging from each side along the edge. Several have (red dyed?) hair running long the inside of the tube, The back of the bag is undecorated animal skin. There is a remnant of a silk ribbon under the flap, running across the bag, sewn to the leather. [LP 28/3/2001]
Geographical reference: United States of America
Northern America > North America > United States of America; Canada
Northern America > North America > Canada
Cultural groups: Haudenosaunee
Person: Field collector James Bisset; PRM source Evelyn Charles Shirley; PRM source John Evelyn Shirley
Date / Period: Date made: 1725-1775
Date collected: By 1952
Acquisition information: Loaned: 05/1952 Purchased: 01/1966
Materials and processes: Material Animal Skin, Material Porcupine Quill Animal, Material Silk Textile Animal, Material Hair, Material Pigment, Process Quillwork, Process Woven
Dimensions: Length: max 200 mm including cones, Length: max 185 mm excluding cones, Width: max 180 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1952.5.010
Research and responses: The possibility that this was formerly the property of James Bisset and acquired by Colonel Shirley via the Leamington Museum is discussed in 'Painted Coats for a Coronation? (Research Notes)' by Linda Mowat in Journal of Museum Ethnography, no. 8 (1996), pp. 109-110 (photocopy in RDF). [JC 20 5 1996]
Information from James O'Neil, Researcher, Ohio: The designs of the people ... are fascinating as they show up on only two other items in collections [I know of]. One item that has them is the prisoner halter or tie in the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. (see RDF for picture). These same figures are on a tumpline or burden strap in the Deutches Ledermuseum, Frankfurt.' He also notes that the bag is interesting because of the amount of loomed quillwork it has and notes that there is a similar piece at Bristol City Museum (Acc. No. E 1682) but the loomed quillwork does not cover the whole face as in the Pitt Rivers example. (Can be found in the RDF file for 1886.1.844)
Identified and dated by the curatorial team for Glenbow Museum's exhibition The Spirit Sings, 1987. [? LMM]
Given by visiting researcher, Cory Silverstein, on 21/3/2001: Red 'Chief's Coats" on two of the human figures suggest the theme of diplomatic/ trade alliance with the British. The bag may have been intended to be given in the context of a diplomatic gift exchange.
During research visit February 2005, Christian Feest queried the similarity of this object with the one in the Frankfurt Ledermuseum. Feest thought this piece was unique in construction and iconography, and would date it closer to 1800 (but ca.1775-1800). [Laura Peers, 2/3/2005]
Examined by the GRASAC research team on 11 December 2007 as part of a research project to create a digital database. This will incorporate information about collections of indigenous material culture from the Great Lakes region of North America that are housed in a number of museums on several continents; see https://icslac.carleton.ca/grasac/. The group noted the following; the materials include woven porcupine quill strips, lining of linen woven in satin twill, giving it a sheen; back is lightly smoked deerhide; glass beads; metal tinkle cones; remnants of silk ribbon at one side and remnant of hide thong on other. The construction is highly unusual of loom-woven quillwork strips sewn vertically together to form body of front of bag with a horizontally-oriented strip across bottom. Front flap constructed of short, vertically-oriented quillwork loomed strips. Fully lined. The motifs are stepped diamonds, rectangles, stepped zigzag lines; two human figures wearing what appear to be hats on front with 8 similar figures across flap. Human figures wearing hats are often depictions of Europeans eg Haudenosaunee combs found archaeologically; also in Anishinaabe graphics. Date of manufacture 18th century, which fits with the use of silk ribbon and white pony beads. North American Nation of origin Haudenosaunee/ Wendat, Ruth Phillips noted similar figures on prisoner ties from Haudenosaunee and Wendat plus there are examples of moccasin cuffs with similar loom woven quillwork. Form of the bag is modelled on British army officer's bag: shot pouch/ammunition bag, similar square with flap construction. powderhorn with moosehair false embroidery in army museum; this object fits with kind of thing that military officers collected. Ruth Phillips thinks this made for a British army officer on commission or for a First Nations warrior. If made for warrior, more likely to have been used but unclear whether this was actually used. [see researchers file GRASAC]. [ZM 08/02/2008]
Final GRASAC entry: 'Description/Summary: Square bag made of loomed quill work and lightly tanned deer hide, decorated with geometric designs and human figures. This bag was likely made in the 18th century and of Hodenosaunee or Wendat origin, and appears to be modeled after a British military-style shot pouch or ammunition bag. This item is part of a collection donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum by Colonel Shirley in 1952. Date Made or Date Range: 1700s Rationale for Assigned Date or Date Range:
The silk ribbon, white pony beads lead us to think that the item was manufactured sometime in the 18th century. Materials: The bag's front is decorated with strips of woven porcupine quillwork (quills are red, black and cream), and its back is made of lightly smoked deer hide. The bag is lined with white or cream linen. A line of white glass beads decorates the edge of the bag's opening. Metal tinkle cones, some with red dyed hair inside, are attached with string to the bag's lower edge and sides. Remnants of silk ribbon are found on the bag's top and on one side. Format/Techniques: The bag's front is made from loom-woven quillwork strips sewn vertically together, a highly unusual technique. A strip is also sewn horizontally, across the bag's bottom. Its front flap is constructed of short, vertically-oriented loomed quillwork strips. Decoration is also found under the flap. The bag is fully lined. The colour of the horizontal band found at the bag's bottom is brighter than the vertical strips. Motifs and Images: Geometric designs - stepped diamonds, rectangles, stepped zigzag lines decorate the bag. As well, two human figures wearing what appear to be hats are found on the bag's front, in the centre, and eight similar figures are found across the flap. The eight figures across the flap are asymmetrically coloured. Symbolism and Interpretation: Human figures wearing hats are often depictions of Europeans. For example, similar figures have been found on Haudenosaunee combs and in Anishinaabe graphics. Condition: The bag's condition is fair. Its sides have lost some metal cones and some of the vertical quillwork strips are breaking down a bit. Other Notes: At first, the GRASAC research team considered possibility that this bag might have been made out of an older burden strap or another item, but several features argue against this idea. Firstly, the motifs featured are human figures and need to be oriented vertically-- secondly, loomed quillwork was used in traditional way horizontally on this bag-- thirdly, overall effect is similar to moosehair false embroidery. Original Function:The bag's form is modeled on a British army officer's bag: its square-shaped body and flap are similar to those of a shot pouch or ammunition bag. This item is the sort military officers often collected. RP thinks it may have been made for a British army officer on commission, or for an Aboriginal warrior. If it was made for a warrior, there is a greater chance it was used. It is unclear whether this bag was actually used.' [L Peers, 29/04/2009]
Associated publications: Illustrated in colour and listed as catalogue number 261 on page 171 of On the Trails of the Iroquois, edited by Sylvia R. Kasprycki (transl. Christian E. Feest) (Bonn: Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 2013). Catalogue entry: '261 Pouch | Iroquois or Huron, late 18th century | Buckskin, porcupine quills, textile, glass beads, sheet metal cones, deer hair, silk ribbon, 20 x 18 cm | Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford | cat.no. 1952.5.010 (Coll. Shirley coll.) | This highly unusual piece is decorated with strips of woven quillwork (once again a technique mainly used by the Huron and by Algonquian-speaking peoples) and features stylized human figures reminiscent of Iroquois burdenstraps and wampum belts with representational designs. C[hristian].F[eest].' [FB 08/04/2013; JC 4 2 2016]

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