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Object Number
83-34-10/30393
Display Title
Wampum Belt
Descriptions
Object Description
Wampum belt. Iroquois chief's collar composed of four sections each of which is wider than the one before it so that it has an elongated pyramidal shape. Its overall length is 72 cm with the width of the four sections being 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, and 7.5 cm in increasing order of width. The largest section has two extensions (one of which is partially missing) which went around the neck of the wearer. It is composed of purple beads with the pattern O-X-O-X-O woven upon it in white beads. Unlike many other wampum belts, the white beads are almost all of glass made to imitate shell wampum. This belt may be the one described by Beauchamp (1901:428, pl. 13 no. 172). Wampum was used as money in the past but now is used only for ceremonial purposes.
Inventory Description
Belt or collar, rows purple wampum w/ white glass/shell geo designs, hide/sinew
Classification
- Belt
Department
Ethnographic
Date
18th century
Culture
- Penobscot
- Mohawk
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
North America
/
United States?
/
Maine?
North America / United States? / New York?
North America / Canada? / Quebec?
North America / United States? / New York?
North America / Canada? / Quebec?
Additional Geographic Terms
Akwesasne?; St. Regis?
Materials
Shell, Hide, Sinew, String, Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 7.6 x 76.8 x 0.2 cm (3 x 30 1/4 x 1/16 in.)
Quantity
2
Label on object
83-34-10/30393
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Erminnie A. Smith, 1883
Provenance
Collector
Erminnie A. Smith
(Unknown)
Donor
Erminnie A. Smith
(09/01/1883)
Important Note about Historical Language
Collections records may contain language, reflecting past collecting practices and methods of analysis, that is no longer acceptable. The Peabody Museum is committed to addressing the problem of offensive and discriminatory language present in its database. Our museum staff are continually updating these records, adding to and improving content. We welcome your feedback and any questions or concerns you may want to share. Please email us with your comments.
| PrimaryMedia | Object Number | Title | Classification | Geography/Provenience | SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03-9-10/62375 | Wampum belt |
Belt
|
Ontario
| |
| 13-17-10/84626 | Wampum belt |
Belt
|
Brantford
| |
| 41-72-10/24338 | Pieces of purple wampum from fragment of an old belt |
Bead
|
New York?
| |
| 46-78-10/28122 | Wampum ornament |
Bead
|
North America
| |
|
| 41-72-10/24337 | Pieces of white wampum from fragment of an old belt |
Bead
|
New York?
| |
| 46-78-10/28121 | Purple Wampum ornament |
Bead
|
North America
| |
| 90-17-10/51063 | Quahog shell for making wampum |
Shell
|
Great Shell heap
| |
| 15-22-10/86069 | Wampum Wrist Ornament |
Ornament
|
New York
Maine | |
| 13-9-10/85339 | Wampum Beads |
Bead
|
North America
| |
| 06-4-10/65748 | Condolence string of Wampum |
Bead
|
Erie County
| |
| 985-27-10/60264 | Wampum belt. Mostly purple wampum w/ 6 diagonal white stripes. |
Belt
|
Maine
| |
| 12-37-10/84216 | Wampum necklace |
Bead
|
North America
|