1999.29.10

Collection type

Object

Description

Case for a mobile telephone which has been decorated with beadwork. The case is made of black synthetic leather and textile and the beadwork is multicoloured but mainly blue, and has been beaded in a geometrical pattern. [MdeA 15/10/99]

Geographical reference

Canada

Northern America > North America > Canada

Alberta

Cultural groups

Driftpile Cree Nation

Person

Maker Gale Kahnapace

Field collector Alison Kay Brown

PRM source Alison Kay Brown

Date / Period

Date made: 26/08/1999-27/08/1999

Date collected

Purchased 27 August 1999

Acquisition information

Donated: 29/09/1999

Materials and processes

Material Bead, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Plastic Synthetic, Process Beadwork, Process Stitched, Process Woven

Dimensions

Length: max 130 mm, Width: max 65 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1999.29.10

Research and responses

Information from collector - 'Beaded cell phone case. I had seen several beaded cell phone cases whilst in Manitoba, but as they are the kind of thing which people bead for themselves or for their friends, was unable to find one on sale. However, knowing that Gale Kahnapace, Cree from Driftpile First Nation in Alberta is a good beader, I asked her if she would attempt to bead one for the Museum. I bought the case, which is of black leather, and Gale chose the beadwork pattern and did the beading. She had planned on making the case look like a moccasin, however, the shape of the case prevented this as there is a hole at one side of the case where part of the phone fits. There are two beaded strips down the length of the case. These have been done on a loom and show a simple geometric pattern in the four colours, red, yellow, white and black, on a sky blue background. There are alternating sky blue and white beads sewn in a single row around the case's plastic window, and a row of clear green beads sewn around the bottom. The case has a zipper to allow the phone to be inserted, and a hook to attach it to the wearer's belt. This was the first time Gale had made such an item, and says that although it was time consuming (it took her about eight hours in total to do the beading), she would consider doing more, if specially asked, as she can charge a higher price for them than for making pen cases or lighter covers. Gale finished the piece off whilst working in the Glenbow Museum Powerful Images Gallery where she is a part-time interpreter, and she says many of the Museum's visitor were interested in buying the case. The case was made on 26-27 August 1999 and was purchased on 27 August 1999.' [MdeA 12/10/99]

See Related Documents File for notes by collector. [MdeA 12/10/99]

See Related Documents File for photograph of Maker taken by Alison K. Brown 27 August 1999. [MdeA 4/11/99]

Search terms: Bag, Transport and Travel, Writing, Carrying Device