Finger Woven Sash

PROVENANCE

This sash together with a collection of other rare, early Eastern Great Lakes material culture was collected by Charles Alston Messiter, F.R.G.S., D.S.O. (1841-1920), of Barwick House, near Yeovil, Somerset, England. Messiter was an adventurer who traveled to North America in 1862, 1866 and 1874, writing about his journeys in a book entitled “Sport and Adventures Amongst the North American Indians (London: 1890). The collection was kept at the family home, Barwick House, until 1969, remaining in the family until it was dispersed through public auction in 1982

Sotheby’s, New York, April 24, 1982, lot 298

RELATED EXAMPLES

Canadian Museum of Civilization, Cat. No. CMC III-X-243 – See: Brasser, Ted. "Bo'jou, Neejee!". Ottawa: National Museum of Man, 1976, pg. 122, pl. 102 (Speyer collection) and four more examples from that collection, all dating to 1780– See: Speyer, Arthur and Benndorf, Helga. Indianer Nordamerickas 1760-1860. Offenbach: Deutschen Ledermusueum, 1968’ pl. 50

Denver Art Museum, Cat. No. 1970.547 – See: Glenbow Museum. The Spirit Sings: Artistic Traditions of Canada's First Peoples, Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1987, pg. 67, pl. W 139, for an 18th century example formerly in the collection of the Earls of Warwick, Warwick Castle

Fort Wayne Military Museum, Cat No 66.14.44 – See: Art of the Great Lakes Indians. Flint: Flint Institute of Arts, 1973, pg. 44, pl. 171