Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

  • Data
  • Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by Pitt Rivers Museum. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Wooden paintbrush with animal hair bristles. [CAK 11/05/2010]

Longer Description

Wooden paintbrush with animal hair bristles. The paintbrush tapers as it goes from the bristles to the handle. Where the bristles are attached, the paintbrush is flatter and wider. Where the paintbrush is held in the hand, it is narrower and rounded. The bristles have been trimmed very short and are covered in black pigment. A thin strip of cedar bark is wound around the brush and would have originally bound the bristles to the brush. Remnants of red, blue and black pigments are visible on the paintbrush. [CAK 11/05/2010]
Roughly carved brushes, painting ends missing bristles and bound in fibre. [JC 13 11 1996]
Paint brushes of various lengths, all showing signs of use - red, black, and some blue paint on brushes and bristles. Quills are bound with fibre to one end to serve as the bristles. [NM 21 2 1997]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This brush was viewed alongside other paintbrushes on Monday Sept 14, 2009. This is one of seven similar paintbrushes [1891.49.72 - .78]. Gaahlaay (Lonnie Young) identified the material binding the bristles to the brush as sinew and noted that the sinew would be tied on when wet, and then would tighten as it dried. He believed the bristles are made from fur. Ruth Gladstone Davies thought the material binding the bristles was cedar bark. Other delegates identified the handles of the brushes as being made from cedar wood, and the lashings from cedar bark. [CAK 11/05/2010]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - From Rev. Ch. Harrison, 80 Halton Rd, Canonbury Sq. N. Collection of Haida objects collected by him.... - [One of] 7 old-fashioned paint-brushes. £45.' [Purchase price includes 1891.49.1-110] [JC 4 9 1996]

No additional information on catalogue cards. [JC 4 9 1996]

Old Pitt Rivers Museum label [now in Related Documents File] - Canada, Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Indians. Paint-brushes for applying black and red paint to masks etc. Purch. from Rev. C. Harrison [NM 13 11 1996]

Written on object - Haida C. Harrison coll. Purchased 1891. [NM 21 2 1997]

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]

Item History

With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account

With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account

Similar Items