Frank Sherman Benson Fund and the Henry L. Batterman Fund

Frank Sherman Benson Fund and the Henry L. Batterman Fund

Frank Sherman Benson Fund and the Henry L. Batterman Fund

Gift of Jack Lenor Larsen

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Birch bark basket with handle. Basket is constructed of a single piece of bark bent and cut to create walls that have been stitched together with thin strips of bark up both short sides. A thin reed of wood is strapped to the top by bark to form a lip. The exterior is embossed with cross shapes and swirls on the ends, and a large tree-like motif at centre on both sides. Scallops line the lip. The interior is undecorated. A wide handle of yellow-brown canvas is attached to the basket by thongs of leather, held together at centre by a twist of wire and tied on the interior. The strap's length can be modified by use of a metal loop.

Oblong bentwood box with lid. Small box (part a) is made of a single piece of bark curved into a long rounded shape, around a wooden base, with edges connected by stitchings of leather. Several small nails attach the bark to the base. Bottom interior has remnants of paper that had been glued to it. Exterior shows very faded black and red linear designs and swirls across the surface. Lid (part b) is of similar shape and construction with adhesive attaching the bark to the wooden top. Design is a black dotted line around red and black leaf shapes and triangles.

Birch bark container. Body is made from a single piece of bark, curved into a tall cylinder, edges sewn together with a thin bark strip. Bottom is reinforced with a narrow strip of bark nailed into place. Rim protrudes and is wrapped with thin strips of bark. Lid is attached to body of container by a strap of hide that is separated at the midpoint in order to make three legs that connect to the body in two places. Decoration etched into the bark consists of ducks, trees, spades and hearts, as well as lines of varying thicknesses on container at bottom, as well as on lid.

Velvet bag constructed of two pieces of black velvet lined with brown and cream cotton in a flower and square pattern. The identical pieces have been sewn together at back and remain open at front, hemmed and finished, with leather thongs knotted onto and running the length of each edge as a means to tie closed and tighten the bag. The back is undecorated, while the front is covered heavily in beading in flower and foliage patterns in green, blue, pink, red and silver coloured beads. There are also rows of metal beads near the edges. The foot of the bag is rounded and extends upward.