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Artworks
Three Artists: MYRTILLE DEMEULLES (DE MEULLES) (1941-), MÉTIS, CHURCHILL MANITOBA; GLORIA McKINNEY, CHURCHILL, MANITOBA; and JESSIE HENDERSON, CHURCHILL, MANITOBA
Three Tufted Caribou Hair Flowers, March 1986 & October 1988dyed caribou hair, hide, and sinew, the largest 4 x 2.5 x 0.75 in (10.2 x 6.3 x 1.9 cm) and smaller, sight, framedLOT 67
ESTIMATE: $500 — $800Further images
Moose and caribou hair tufting is a distinct Indigenous art practice that emerged in the northern reaches of Canada during the early twentieth century. The process of tufting requires careful,...Moose and caribou hair tufting is a distinct Indigenous art practice that emerged in the northern reaches of Canada during the early twentieth century.
The process of tufting requires careful, deliberate labour. Clusters of animal hair are stitched into fabric, then clipped with precision to create softly dimensional motifs. Moose hair is often favoured for its resilience and stiffness, though caribou hair, particularly from the animal’s beard, is also employed. Only the white hairs are selected. Artists hand-pluck each strand from tanned hides, then clean, sort, and trim them according to thickness and length. Early practitioners dyed the fibres using plant-based materials: roots, berries, lichen, and bark. By the 1980s, however, many had embraced modern alternatives. As seen in these works, vibrant colours were often achieved by boiling the hair with commercial dyes or crepe paper, merging traditional knowledge with readily available tools.
Provenance
Private Collection, Toronto.
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