In Conversation | Haudenosaunee Beaded Match Safe

In 2022, The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) worked with Seneca artists Mary Jacobs and Samantha Jacobs to create interpretive content for the Museum’s special exhibition “Past | Present: expanding the stories of glass.” Mary and Samantha visited the Museum and studied this Beaded Match Safe in the Museum’s collection. This match safe was made to hang on a wall in someone’s home, probably near a kerosene lamp. One pocket safely stored unused matches, while the other held used matches. The bead colors used on this match safe indicate it was probably made by a Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) family. Birds, like the one at the top of this match safe, are a common image, but each family would have had their own beaded bird pattern. The Museum extends our thanks to Mary and Samantha, whose perspectives and generosity with their knowledge were integral to creating the exhibition display and enhancing the Museum’s understanding of this object.
Beaded Match Safe
Made by members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, probably Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) Nation
Made in Haudenosaunee Confederacy territory, in about 1917
Acquired in Chautauqua, New York, United States
96.4.67, gift of the Stillman Family
To learn more about Mary Jacobs and Samantha Jacobs and their work, visit:
nativerootsartistsguild.com/l...
nativerootsartistsguild.com/l...
To learn more about this Beaded Match Safe, visit: Cmog.org/beaded-match-safe
To learn more about “Past | Present: expanding the stories of glass,” visit: Cmog.org/flood-exhibition
To read the CMoG Land Acknowledgment, visit: info.cmog.org/land-acknowledg...