Name/Title
Collage "Abenaque Indians"Entry/Object ID
L2024.3.154Description
Framed collage with three colorized photographs of an individual in native costume with a long gun. Work is titled, "Abenaque Indians" and subtitled, "Sebago Lake Maine." Costume includes large, red bag and feathered headdress. Background of large rocks, pine trees and water. (L-R) First photo shows person in profile holding gun at waist level and captioned "Um~Ha." Second photo shows person bent at waist in three-quarter view aiming gun over left wrist with caption, "Caramb~Ha." Third photo shows person facing to the left and looking at the camera, holding gun upright and captioned, "Lung~Ha."Artwork Details
Medium
PaperSubject Place
Lake
Sebago LakeCounty
CumberlandState/Province
MaineCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaContext
This strange, (perhaps thought whimsical) framed collage is important for an early use of the “Abenaki” term in the hand drawn script designating a modern people. During the 18th can 19th centuries, “Abenaki” seemed to have only referred to historical peoples or as map designations. In Vermont, “Indian” and “St. Francis Indian” were the terms used for living regional indigenous people.
The three hand tinted photos illustrate a man with a muzzleloading firearm in three poses wearing a feather headdress and fragment of probably original cut cloth fringe clothing over a white shirt and trousers. Below the photos are constructed pseudo-Abenaki words.Acquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
Abenaki Cultural ConservancyMade/Created
Date made
1910 - 1930Place
State/Province
MaineCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
CollageNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Height
15-5/8 inWidth
18-3/4 in