Quillwork

The quillwork on the box is very unique because the floral design would have been very popular with the Victorians at the time it was made. This indicates that the box may have been made for white tourists. In both settler-colonial and Native contexts flowers take on a certain meaning. The settler-colonial view of flowers represents submission and acceptance, and in various Native mythologies flowers represent medicine and healing. Traditionally, what was embroidered on the  top of the birchbox signified the contents it held. In this case this object would have been made to hold a pair of gloves (Radus, Margaret Boyd’s Quillwork History). 

Quillwork on bark is an ancient art practiced for more than a thousand years. No needle, thread, or sewing is necessary to attach the porqupine quills to the birch bark. Instead, tiny perferations are made in the bark (in the pattern the artist wants to create) and the sharp ends of the quill make it so the quill can easily be threaded through.  After each quill is threaded through the pair of holes the ends are bent and hidden by liner to protect the ends of the quills (Prindle, 2020). The quills used to embroider this box were dyed before being embroidered into the birchbark.

Photo credit- Lynne Swanson