The Roll Call of the Iroquois Chiefs : A Study of a Mnemonic Cane from the Six Nations Reserve

Ontario, Canada: Iroqrafts Ltd, 1983. Reprint . Soft cover. Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Minor edge and corner wear; lightly scuffed and scratched; missing the ffep; spine is lightly creased; some light shelf wear; overall a very crisp and clean used copy! White wrapper with black lettering. 88 very clean unmarked and uncreased historical and informative pages nicely enhanced by black and white illustrations and photographs! "Canes from American Indian tribes are not uncommon in museum collections. Frequently the sticks are carved or ornamented in diverse ways but, unfortunately, in most instances the specimens are accompanied by but meager data concerning their general significance and use apart from their obvious utilitarian purpose. Consequently Indian canes constitute somewhat of a problem to curators of ethnological collections. It may be inferred that decorated canes summoned the best talents of tribal artists who carved in the round or engraved designs reflecting the characteristic style of tribe and region, but lacking collectors' field notes, the symbolic intent of the adornments, if any, cannot be know. Such was the case with Iroquois chiefs' canes and with one, in particular, which is the subject of the present study...." --- from the Introduction.