Object Details
- Collection History
- Presented by the Lenape to William Penn (1644-1718), the founder of Pennsylvania, as part of a land sale or treaty in the 1680s; taken or sent to England and kept as property of the Penn family at Pennsylvania Castle, their estate in Portland, England; acquired by John Merrick Head (ca. 1843-1915) in 1887 when he purchased Pennsylvania Castle and its contents; sold at an auction of Penn items from Merrick's estate in July 1916 by Christie, Manson & Woods of London; purchased from the buyer at that sale by William Ockleford Oldman (1879-1949, who did business as "W.O. Oldman, Ethnographical Specimens, London"), who was acting for MAI, in 1916 using funds donated by MAI trustee Harmon W. Hendricks (1846-1928).
- Contact Us
- Have a concern, a correction, or something to add? Contact us: https://nmai.si.edu/collections-statement
- Data Source
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Culture/People
- Lenape (Delaware)
- Previous owner
- William Penn, Non-Indian, 1644-1718
- J. Merrick Head (John Merrick Head), Non-Indian, ca. 1843-1915
- Auction venue
- Christie Manson & Woods Limited (Christie's), 1859-
- MAI agent
- William Ockleford Oldman (W.O. Oldman/William Ockelford Oldman), Non-Indian, 1879-1949
- Presenter/funding source
- Harmon W. Hendricks (Harmon Washington Hendricks), Non-Indian, 1846-1928
- Date created
- circa 1680
- Object Name
- Wampum belt
- Media/Materials
- Whelk shell beads (white wampum), quahog clam shell beads (purple wampum), hide thong/babiche, cordage, cotton twine/string
- Techniques
- Loom beadwork
- Dimensions
- 76 x 11.5 cm
- Object Type
- Ceremonial/Ritual items
