Ojibwa Small Oval Quilled Lidded Basket Box by Lorraine Besito [SOLD]

Lorraine Besito of the Saugeen Reserve (Ojibwa) skillfully fashioned an elegant Ojibwa basket box with a geometric pattern composed of white, brown and red dyed porcupine quills, birchbark and sweet grass. These three materials are the traditional components of Ojibwa quill boxes. Quillwork is one of the oldest art forms used by Native Americans. Before the 1850s when glass beads became available, quills were used as ornamental design on clothing, baskets and carrying bags.  

The preparation of quills to use in decoration of personal objects was labor intensive and timely. The quills had to be cleaned, sorted and dyed before they could be used. As glass beads became more common, the traditional use of porcupine quills decreased along with the knowledge of how to produce objects with quillwork. 

The other materials needed for the creation of Ojibwa quill boxes are birchbark and sweetgrass. Birch bark can only be collected once a year, and needs to be dried for at least six months.  Sweetgrass is picked in wet areas in July. The traditional habitats where these materials are found is shrinking. All of these factors are the reason why these boxes are so rare. 

One of the few native artists who is still making quill boxes is Lorraine Besito. Lorraine was born on the Parry Island Reserve and has been doing quillwork since she was a girl. Her mother first taught her the craft. She and her daughters collect all the necessary materials to create the boxes. Lorraine and her daughters are the only ones on her reserve who do any type of quillwork. They live on the Saugeen Reserve near Southampton, Ontario. 

We are fortunate to have this rare quillbox made by Lorraine Bessito. 

Condition: The Ojibwa Small Oval Quilled Lidded Basket Box by Lorraine Besito is in very good condition. There are a couple of quills missing, but it does not distract from the overall look of the piece.  

Provenance: From the personal collection of Marti Struever

Recommended Reading: Indian and Eskimo Artifacts of North America by Charles Miles

Relative Links: Ojibwa, Native American Baskets, Lorraine Besito