Covered quillwork box c. 20th century

natural stone pattern

circular oval feature

pottery

cake food

round design

wood background

pattern background

stoneware

round circular shape

layered pattern

This 20th-century quillwork box, crafted by an Anishinaabe artist, showcases the intricate artistry of Indigenous craft traditions. Made from birch bark and adorned with quillwork, the box features a delicate design of flowers and a stem, showcasing the skill of the artist in utilizing natural materials. The quillwork, meticulously woven into the surface, adds a layer of texture and visual interest to the box, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The box serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Anishinaabe artistry, reflecting their deep connection to nature and their mastery of traditional crafts.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

The Anishinaabe woman artist who created this intricately adorned and finely woven basket utilized locally harvested porcupine quills, birchbark, and sweetgrass. Artists often incorporated abstraction into their work, layering quills in complex patterns and forms that reveal both technical mastery and artistic ingenuity. For more than two hundred years, Anishinaabe women sold many of their birchbark containers and baskets to non-Native people to sustain their families during a time of major cultural disruption, including forced assimilation and removal onto governmental and religious controlled reservations. Quillboxes exemplify the power of Anishinaabe women to create a new and unique artform that expresses cultural and individual resiliency and creativity.