A Quillworking Companion

Book: A Quillworking Companion
Author: Jean Heinbuch
ISBN-13: 978-0943604251
Binding: Paperback
PublishingDate: 1990-08-01
Publisher: Eagles View Publishing
Number Of Pages: 92
booklanguage: English
Availability: In Stock

Price: $16.95

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Porcupine quillwork is an art form that is unique to the Indians of North America and, before the introduction of seed beads by Europeans, was the method of decoration that was most common. After the Indians were given beads this craft all but disappeared, except in the most ceremonial kinds of adornment. Still, the craft was handed down from generation to generation and recently there has been a renewed interest in this craft among Indians and non-Indians alike. The modern-day "mountain man" and the traditionally-oriented Indian share a desire to possess and create articles decorated with the quills of the porcupine. In 1917, William C. Orchard (Heye Foundation) wrote his classic, The Technique of Porcupine Quill Decoration Among the Indians of North America, and this book became the definitive work on porcupine quillwork. Since that time very few books have been published about this unique American art form, but none have gone beyond Orchard and attempted to explain exactly how quillwork is done, how to master the necessary techniques or what the secrets are that are needed to do quality craftwork. Jean Heinbuch has now written an excellent book that does just that.