Collection: Warnock

Item Number: WC8308028

Category: Knife-Knife Case

Region: Northeast

Tribe: Iroquois - Mohawk type

Period: 1800-1825

Materials: Case: native tanned hide; dyed and natural bird quills; dyed porcupine quills; tin cones; dyed red deer hair; birchbark. Knife: steel blade; wood handle; native tanned hide; bird quills, tin cones.

Description: Knife case is decorated with quillwork that includes two vertical bands on birchbark, zigzag lines in white on the hide, and a neck strap of two strands of quill wrapped hide. Knife handle is also fully decorated with quillwork.

Dimensions: Length (with strap) 24.5 inches 62.2 cm; length (case only) 10.25 inches 26.1 cm; length (knife) 8.25 inches 21 cm.

Provenance:

Charles Messiter Collection
Alexander Gallery
Epic Fine Arts Co./Masco Corp.

Exhibitions:

Akicita, The Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, May 17, 1983 - July 10, 1983
Splendid Heritage, The Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, February 10, 2009 - March 1, 2010
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wy, May 1, 2010 - October 31, 2010
Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Mo, Febuary 12, 2010 - April 24, 2010

References:

Sotheby's Auction Catalogue, Sotheby's, New York, Sale 4842Y, Lot 286, April 24, 1982
Warnock, John and Marva Warnock, eds, Splendid Heritage: Perspectives on American Indian Art, University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, 2009, pp 75

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