Quilled Pouch

Long before contact with Europeans, Mi’kmaq women of coastal Maine and eastern Canada wove and stitched dyed porcupine quills into their clothing, jewelry, and regalia. As British and French colonization dramatically shifted their lives and economies, they created souvenirs, such as birchbark containers with quillwork designs, to sell to settlers and tourists around Niagara Falls and other scenic sites. Keenly aware of European and American tastes, these artists preserved traditional techniques within new forms. This small, mid-19th century handbag looks like fashionable Euro-American versions of the time with its rounded body, flap closure, and short ribbon handle.