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We know the story but what is the origin?

Would you like to play detective? The Penn Treaty Museum has two mysterious items that we need help identifying.  The story of the Treaty between Penn and the Original Stewards of the Land is well represented but we do not know the origin or purpose of the artifacts. Here are the clues:

Penn Treaty Museum

The enamel medal was created after 1909. There is an image of Penn, Native Americans and the elm. It appears to be derived from the Edwin Austin Abbey mural paintings commissioned for the Capitol building in Harrisburg by the State of Pennsylvania. The medal also incorporates aspects of the Philadelphia flag.

The painting is by L. Appleyard. The oil on canvas work is believed to have been painted circa 1982, the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship. Penn holds a wampum belt and the Chief (we are guessing Tamanend) holds a peace pipe. Also pictured are a turkey, a symbol of abundance in traditional Native American culture; a turtle, a sacred figure representing Mother Earth; a wolf, which often symbolizes good and evil; and an American eagle, representing power and strength.

Comments(2)

  1. David Haff says:

    Second Painting: The Turkey, Turtle and Wolf are clans of the Lenape people. http://delawaretribe.org/home-page/about-our-tribal-seal/

    I was not able to open either of the images for some reason if you email me I will try and look closer at the work being presented. I am of Lenape decent so however I can help would be my pleasure.

    • john davis says:

      More than a year later, and I can’t open it either….