Photographs (left to right): Bush-Footed Butterfly, Rush, New York: Solar Pillar, Rush, New York; Mushroom, Rush, New York

Wampum Belt Archive

 

Glass Beaded Garter

Haudenosaunee or Algonquian

ca. 1700-1770

BM AN308695001

Original Size:	Length: 11.0 inches. Width: 3.1 inches. (66cm x 8.5cm)
Reproduction:
Beads:
Materials:

Description:

Loom woven imitation-wampum glass bead garters, each consisting of 20 rows of opaque glass beads, of varied shapes, with geometric designs. The layouts and details of the design are similar, but not identical. In [b] the design consists of three black panels, each decorated with pairs of white diamonds: the garter is bilaterally symmetrical about the axis through the center of the middle black panel. The black panels are separated by white panels, each with 2 pairs of black squares. At both ends of the garter are white panels, with black diamond patterns, the reverse of the adjoining black panels. The other garter [a] is basically the same, but is not symmetrical: one of the white panels with black diamonds is longer [15 wefts or rows as opposed to 12 or 14] than it is in [b], so the other end has only a few [4] rows of white beads, and no indication of the black diamonds. The warps are of two-ply 'Z' twist red wool, the wefts largely of a two-ply 'S' twist cord of uncertain material; however as in the two previous imitation-wampum garters the ends of the loom woven panel narrow, by being drawn tightly so that the beadwork ends buckle, and continue on with wefts without beads; whereas in the other garters this continuation is executed in the same cord used for the wefts, here it is in the red wool used for the warps. There are intriguing admixtures to the wool cording: in [b] towards one end there seems to be a piece of sinew sticking out; at the same end also is a single additional piece of bright maroon cord woven into the tassel/ties. [a] at one end has two tufts of black wool sticking out of the beadwork.

Reference:

British Museum. For more details see - http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1991-09-11-a-b

King, J. C. H. 1991. Woodlands artifacts from the studio of Benjamin West, 1738-1820, American Indian Art Magazine, Winter 1991.