Bottle Lid

74-24-26A

From: North America

Curatorial Section: American

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Object Number 74-24-26A
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Native American (uncertain) | Colonial (uncertain)
Provenience North America
Culture Area North American Culture Area
Locus Northeast North America
Section American
Materials Wood | Cotton
Description

Roughly heart-shaped bottle with cap. Made of burl maple. The bottle is handmade, althought the cap was probably turned on a lathe. There are two carved animal (?) heads at the top (each on one side) with holes through the mouths for holding the strap. There is a powder measure inside the lid. The measure was used with a .70 calibre gun- a type of gun used by the colonial militia prior to 1750. The powder measure has been stuffed with 4 wads of Chinese rice paper (one piece with Chinese characters) to shorten the measure so it is suitable for use in hunting small game. This fact, plus the carvings on the bottle, would imply that it was used by an Indian rather than a white man. Cultural identification by John Witthoft. An unusual specimen.

Outside Diameter 8 cm
Credit Line Gift of Anne Rowland, 1974

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