Quill loom. A piece of willow wood is bent into a bow to support the weaving. At one end is attached a short strip of moosehide held in place by a pin topped with a red plastic ball. To the hide is sewn several cotton threads. Near their opposite ends, the threads pierce a thin rectangle of cardboard that keeps them separated; they are then tied to the other end of the wood. Woven into the threads are porcupine quills dyed multiple colours, creating cream-coloured diamonds on a background of alternating areas of light green, dark pink, and yellow. Borders of white and yellow line each side of the weaving. The quills have not been trimmed.

Quill loom. A piece of willow wood is bent into a bow to support the artwork being created. At one end of the willow is attached a short strip of moosehide to which is sewn several cotton threads. Near their opposite ends the threads pierce a small rectangle of cardboard to keep them separated, and are then tied to the other end of the willow. Woven into the threads are porcupine quills dyed multiple colours, creating patterns of 'X's and diamonds on a cream-coloured background. The quills have been cut to a length of approximately 1 cm at the back of the weaving.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Sickler Smith Collection; Gift of her grandson, Edward Conyngham.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

Bequest of Kathleen Ban.

Plains Indian people traditionally used porcupine quills to decorate clothing and other items. As glass beads introduced by traders became more and more available, the use of porcupine quills gradually declined, though it never stopped completely. The enbroidered design of porcupine quills on the pair of moccasins on the left (91.95.2a,b) is unique to the Mandan; it usually consists of a sectioned circle with pendant triangles, sometimes referred to as "sunburst." It is similar to the quilled and painted designs found on buffalo hide robes of the same period.