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Object Number 03-9-10/62375
Display Title Wampum belt
Descriptions
Object Description Wampum belt. Probably a treaty belt, sloping lines signify temporary alliance. Was for treaty between Iroquois and Ojibwa of Great Lakes region. Consists of 327 rows of 6 wampum beads each. The belt is composed of purple beads with 8 designs of 4 slanting rows of white beads spaced out along its length. In places the belt shows evidence of repair where thread has been used instead of the more normal sinew. Whether these repairs were made by the Native groups or by the museum staff or other white owners is uncertain. Wampum was used as money in the past but now is used only for ceremonial purposes.
Inventory Description Belt, purple wampum w/ diagonal white wampum stripes, tied w/ hide, sinew, strin
Classification
  • Belt
Department Ethnographic
Date 1700-1750
Culture
  • Huron?
  • Algonquin?
  • Ojibwa?
  • Mohawk?
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
North America / Canada / Ontario
Additional Geographic Terms Timiskaming Region; Lake Constance
Dimensions Overall: 109 x 4 cm (42 15/16 x 1 9/16 in.)
Quantity 1
Label on object 62375
Credit Line Museum Purchase, Huntington Frothingham Wolcott Fund, 1903
Provenance
Previous owner Previously owned by Chief Kegonce (Unknown)
Previous owner Previously owned by Andy Langdon (Unknown)
Previous owner Previously owned by Grandmother or aunt of Andy Langdon (Unknown)
Dealer Francis West (04/02/1903)
Collector Francis West (Winter of 1902-1903)

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PrimaryMedia Object Number Title Classification Geography/Provenience SHARE
Wampum Belt
83-34-10/30393 Wampum Belt
Belt
Quebec?
Maine?
New York?
Wampum belt
13-17-10/84626 Wampum belt
Belt
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Pieces of purple wampum from fragment of an old belt
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41-72-10/24337 Pieces of white wampum from fragment of an old belt
Bead
New York?
Wampum belt. Mostly purple wampum w/ 6 diagonal white stripes.
985-27-10/60264 Wampum belt. Mostly purple wampum w/ 6 diagonal white stripes.
Belt
Maine
Wampum Beads
13-9-10/85339 Wampum Beads
Bead
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Ornament
New York
Maine
Iroquois Wampum belts at Onondaga
2004.29.6089 Iroquois Wampum belts at Onondaga
New York
String of purple wampum
99-12-10/53011 String of purple wampum
Bead
United States
Quahog shell for making wampum
90-17-10/51063 Quahog shell for making wampum
Shell
Great Shell heap
Wampum ornament
46-78-10/28122 Wampum ornament
Bead
North America