BONE JEWELLERY

Porcupine Quill Baskets (Boxes)

Quill Basket

Mainly Mik Maq and Ojibway art form, however many others do excellent work including Iroquois and Plains tribes

	A vanishing art; becoming very rare and is highly collectable.
	Time has offered both traditional and modern concepts in design.
	Nature is a very common motif.
	The oldest form of Native embroidery.
	Lost popularity with the introduction of glass beads in the mid 1800's.
	Obtain quills by throwing a blanket over a porcupine; the quills naturally come off of the animal and are left in the blanket.
	Porcupine is a form of meat to the Native people and is hunted in some areas. Quills come in 4 classes: TAIL QUILLS: very large and course and are used only to fill in very large areas on a basket over 12" in size. BACK QUILLS: very long and thin and are often cut to size and used in baskets. NECK QUILLS: very fine quills which are ideal for embroidery and baskets. BELLY QUILLS: thinnest quills and are best for delicate line quisling.
	Quills are used to partially or completely cover a birch bark basket.
	Quills are held in mouth (or water) to "soften" and make pliable.
	They are then stitched into holes in wet birch bark which seals around the quill to hold it in place.
	Quills are often dyed using natural or commercial dyes and constructed to make a design or image.

Porcupine Quill Box

Quill Box

Type of quill used:

Type of Design:

Intricate design are more expensive.

Type of stitch used:

Use of Trim:

	Sweet grass trim should be neat and clean; trim should be finished on whole box including the inside; adds scent to the basket.
	Mik Maq trim with ash which is difficult and adds value to a piece.
	Other stitching: sinew is more expensive than thread.