The Technique of Porcupine-Quill Decoration Among the North American Indians

By: William C. Orchard Orchard

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: This edition of Orchard’s 1917 book on porcupine quill decoration is fully illustrated and features a color center section with examples of the art form. The plates and diagrams show every facet of quillwork from plaiting through wrapping. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow for the craftsperson and the pictures and text make this a treasure for anyone interested in the craftwork of Native Americans. Porcupine quill decoration is a craft that is unique to the Indians of North America; a craft that can be found nowhere else in the world. Prior to about 1840 it was the principle means of decoration among most of this continent's Nations and as such one would suppose that there would be innumerable studies, books and articles about the subject…Some eighty years after the first publication, this work remains the best single source on traditional porcupine quill work and Orchard remains the acknowledged expert in the field.The book is fully illustrated and features a color center section of examples of the art form. The plates and diagrams show every facet of quillwork from plaiting through wrapping. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow for the craftsperson and the pictures and text make this a treasure for anyone interested in the craftwork of Native Americans.-Print ed.