| Object ID |
T0023a-e |
| Object Name |
Canoe Model |
| Description |
Eastern Ojibwa canoe model with an Indian figure - Ex-Elgin.;
Medium/Materials: Birch bark, porcupine quills, spruce root, feathers, commercial felt, hair, wood, feathers, hide;
Marks: On canoe bottom, in black ink: "Mani Kueyik"; |
| Artist |
Kooyik, Mary (attributed to) |
| Dimensions |
H-4 W-4 L-15 inches |
| Early Date |
1847 |
| Late Date |
1853 |
| Made |
Presentation/Souvenir |
| Medium |
wood/feathers/hide |
| Place of Origin |
Ontario, Canada |
| People |
Ojibwa/Ottawa/ |
| Provenance |
(1) James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine (1811-1863). Dunfermline, Scotland. Believed to have been given as a presentation piece to Lord Elgin, Governor-General of Canada, 1846-1854, during his residency in Canada between 1847 and 1853.;
(2) Descended in Elgin family to the 11th Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine.. Sale handled by Richard L. Feigen, St. James's, London, England;
(3) Eugene V. Thaw 19 November 1990.;
|
| Search Terms |
Eastern Ojibwa/ |
| History |
Scholarly Attributions:
[1] Ted Brasser - May 1997 - asked the following to be added to the text: "Mary Kooyik, presumably the makes [sic] of this canoe, wrote the native rendition of her name on the bottom: Mani Kueic." Based upon his research at the National Archives of Canada - Department of Indian Affairs - Red and Black Series - RG number may be forthcoming from Ted Brasser. Information was transcribed from microfilm into a notebook. [2] Letter from Kenneth Hamilton - 30 March 2000 - stating that he believes that the canoe and figure may represent Mennabozhoo [Nanabush] citing the high decoration on the canoe, the water drum and birchbark scroll. This is an interesting but unlikely interpretation as Ruth B. Phillips has studied this piece and has not suggested any such association. There are other examples of highly decorated quillworked birchbark canoes and they have never been interpreted in this way. Also the birchbark piece is a bed roll, not a Midewiwin scroll. And the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians were given
the accession file on this piece (as well as the other Ojibwa/Ottawa pieces) and they "could find no items that can be identified as sacred or funerary." |
| Used |
Eastern Ojibwa/Ottawa |
|
