Introduction to Quillwork

Quillwork

Porcupine quillwork is an ancient art that pre-exists European contact and the concept of using glass beads for decoration. This is exclusively a North American Art form with the earliest known quilled article being discovered archaeologically that dates to approximately 1000 BC. As with our other material, our focus is on the types of quillwork done in the 17th and 18th centuries. These types varied by location and tribal affiliation, however the basic concept of using the porcupine quill was a universal means of artistic and social expression throughout the North East, Great Lakes, and Plains regions. The techniques involved in this media are diverse and time consuming, yet we will continue to provide a means of acquiring period appropriate articles such as bags, neck-knife cases, prisoner cords, split-belly pouches, tab pouches, drawstring bags, etc. Although interpretive pieces are common, it is our goal to recreate these items with the utmost concern for detail in dimensions and composition without altering the styles by "artistic license" or "interpretive" contemporary design. We have an ever growing extensive image archive of quillwork articles that are housed in many of the world’s museum and private collections to assist in meeting your quillwork needs. If you have a design in mind we can work with you to reproduce an existing piece from a museum collection or create a composite of numerous items. If for any reason we cannot provide you with what you are looking for, we can provide you with a referral to another equally qualified quillwork artist.

Please check our inventory regularly for available quillwork.

Quillwork
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At The Eastern Door 2007