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In the next few pages, I will insert bits of Historical information, as some folks are not familiar with the "Lost art" of working with porcupine quills. The pieces shown here are the result of many hours of satisfaction, some times frustration. I'm a self tought quiller and it is not my intention in performing any kind of demonstration. I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I enjoyed creating the pieces.
"As related by Cathy Smith (Quillworker) on The Book of Buckskinning III, the pictures shown here are solely for illustration and not related to the quotations"

"It is unknown when'quillwork was originated, but it can be assumed that it dates back to a prehistoric period!"

"A pair of Moccasins with 'quillwork was found in a cave at the Promontory Point, Utah. They were dated from the 13th or 14th centuries.Possibly of Athabaskan origin."

"Porcupine quills are fragil in nature,ancient quillwork deteriorated and did not survive the ravages of time."

"There are a few examples dating from the 18th Century, but most dated from the 19th and 20th Century."

"From studying the journals of early trappers and adventurers we know that 'quillwork' had attained "The state of the art" prior to white contact."

"In 1804 Lewis and Clark brought back a buffalo robe and a woman's side seam dress, two of the earliest quilled pieces now existing in this Country."

Daddy's a "show off"...... want to see more? click again!