Porcupine Quills in Tin Pail

Object/Artifact

-

Porter County Museum

Name/Title

Porcupine Quills in Tin Pail

Entry/Object ID

2015.61.3

Description

Small, handmade tin pail filled with dyed green porcupine quills.

Use

Native Americans used porcupine quills to create elaborately embroidered decorations on clothing, boxes, bags, and more.

Context

After trapping a porcupine and collecting its quills, artists would color the quills by boiling them in vegetable dye. They would then fold, twist, and braid the quills, using a variety of techniques to create their desired designs. Although beadwork eventually replaced quillwork in popularity, some Native artists still practice and celebrate this art form today.

Acquisition

Accession

2015.61

Source or Donor

Found in Collection

Acquisition Method

Found in Collection

Made/Created

Time Period

19th Century

Exhibition

From a Bailly Point of View