Quilled box with geometric designs

Porcupine quillwork was a widespread form of decoration, perhaps the oldest form of North American embroidery. To embellish articles of clothing and accessories, the quills are folded, twisted, wrapped, plaited, and sewn using a wide range of techniques. After the European conquest, glass beads gradually replaced quills. Early in the 20th century, the Micmac still produced great numbers of quilled objects. Now quillwork is almost a lost art, only practiced by the oldest Micmac women.