- Quillwork
Quillwork is a form of
textile embellishment traditionally practiced by Native Americans that employs thequill s ofporcupine s as a decorative element.History
Before the introduction of glass beads, quillwork was a major decorative element used by the peoples who resided in the porcupine's natural habitat.cite book|title= World Textiles: A Visual Guide to Traditional Techniques |pages=223|author=John Gillow and Bryan Sentance|publisher= Thames & Hudson |date=1999] The use of quills in designs spans from
Maine toAlaska .cite book|last=Orchard|first=William C.|title=The Technique of Porcupine-Quill Decoration Among The North American Indians|publisher=The Museum of the American Indian Heye Foundation|date=1916]Technique
Quills suitable for embellishment are two to three inches long and may be dyed before use. Usually quills are stitched into leather in a manner that hides the stitches or wrapped around a leather thong. A single quill may be wrapped upon itself or two quills may be intertwined.
References
External links
* [http://www.nativetech.org/quill/index.php Substantial material about quillwork from nativetech.org]
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