6 1/2 x 11 1/4 x 7 1/8 in. (16.51 x 28.58 x 18.1 cm)
Object Type
implement/tool
Creation Place
North America, United States, Maine
Medium and Support
birch bark and split spruce root
Credit Line
Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine
Copyright
This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s
Copyright Terms and Conditions.
This oval box represents the material culture of Wabanaki people—Abenaki, Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot—living in what is now Maine and Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Attributed to the Maliseet Nation, it is made from the bark of white or paper birch, which continues to be a reliable and useful material that Wabanakis use to craft an array of objects. The double-scroll motif on this box, a typical Wabanaki design, was scratched into the soft fibers to reveal the lighter bark within. The skill needed to create this form attests to the artistry of Wabanaki craftsmanship. Beginning in the seventeenth century, European explorers and settlers marveled at birchbark’s versatility and Native Americans’ use of the material. Inscriptions on the inside cover includes the date 1834 and “Bought of Dr. Bear[s] [?] of Prospect,” providing a rare reference to the Native family associated with the box’s origins.
Additional Media
3/4 side, end and top
opposite side
inside box and lid
side
Recommend keywords
Help us make our collections more accessible by providing keywords to describe this artwork. The BCMA uses the
Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus to
provide consistent keywords. Enter a keyword in the field below and you will be prompted with a list of possible matching AAT preferred terms.
