Producer unknown to us
Game of chance, “Stick Game”
Americas, United States, Great Lakes region, Minnesota, Nett Lake
Before 1947
Wood, fire decoration, carvings
Eva Lips (ethnologist) acquired this item during her exile in the United States from 1934 to 1947
Purchased by the museum from Elisabeth Malüg in 1990
NAm 4984 a-d
Sticks were used as dice for this game played by the Anishinaabe (also: Chippewa, Ojibwa). To make them look like snakes, the flat sides of each of the four sticks are decorated with zigzag lines applied using special fire techniques and carvings on one end. The origin of the snake markings apparently lies in a dream of a player who introduced these decorations after his dream. Similar variations of the game, with different decorations and markings, are played among a number of Anishinaabe subgroups. This game is designed for two players who take turns throwing the four sticks. The game is scored by how many sticks land with their markings up or down, and the opponent’s score on their previous throw.
Ethnologist Eva Lips (1906–1988) acquired this piece during her time in exile in the United States from 1934–1947.
Frank Usbeck