06/14/2026
Artifact of the Week: Haudenosaunee Pin Cushion (HM7396), Donated by Patricia Bragdon
In the late 19th and early 20th century pin cushions were popular souvenirs of visits to Niagara Falls. These Victorian-era works, referred to as "whimsies," featured slogans, flowers, leaves, birds and animals as well as patriotic motifs that are featured on this piece. Drawing on design traditions done on clay, shell, and hide going back untold generations, Haudenosaunee artists adopted and adapted new materials to create these extraordinary objects.
Come see objects from around the world at the Hudson Museum in the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm.
You can find out more about this and other Hudson Museum artifacts on our collections page here: https://hudsonmuseum.catalogaccess.com/