Photographs (left to right): Flowers, Amicalola Falls, Georgia; Marble Canyon, Death Valley, California; Peek-a-boo lizard, Florida

Wampum Belt Archive

 

Delaware - Wm. Penn Belt

(also called the Second William Penn Belt)

Reproduction (R. D. Hamell Feb. 28 2010)

 

Original Size:	Length (?): 17.5 inches. Width: 6.0 inches. Rows: 18.
Reproduction:	Beaded Length: 28.9 inches. Width: 8.0 inches. Rows 18. Length with fringe: 52.9 inches
Beads:	Rows: 165. Width: 18. Total Beads: 2,970.
Materials:	Warp: Leather. Weave: Artificial Sinew.

Description:

The Delaware Lenni-Lenape Chief Tamanend gave this belt to William Penn in 1682 as a record of the Lenape's sincerity in the gift of the land grant to him. The figures of William Penn and the Delaware are joined in friendship.

Wampum Shop Description:

This belt was delivered by the Lenni-Lenape (Delaware) Chiefs to William Penn at the celebrated peace treaty under the elm tree at Shackamaxon in 1682. The hand of William Penn is joined in friendship with the hand of the Chief and the two smokes (councils) of the two people are joined together as one. William Penn at that time said these good words to the Natives, "We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good will. No advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts. We are of one flesh and blood." The reply of the Lenni-Lenape Chief was as follows: "We will live in love with William Penn and his children as long as the creeks and rivers run, and while the sun, moon, and stars endure.

Stolle, Nickolaus (2016): Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. HSP 1857.3, gift to the institution by Greanville John Penn, great-grandson of William Penn in 1857.

Reference:

Stolle, Nickolaus. 2016. Talking Beads: The history of wampum as a value and knowledge bearer, from its very first beginnings until today. Hamburg, Germany. ISSN 1437-7837

Tehanetorens. 1999. Wampum Belts of the Iroquois. Book Publishing Company, Summertown, TN.

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