moccasins

moccasins

moccasins

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Introduction

Moccasins, saw-tooth quillwork stitch, probably Cree, 18th or early 19th century

Nation of Maker: Cree
Date Made or Date Range: 18 C to Early 19 C
Materials

Lightly smoked moose and caribou hide, porcupine quills

Techniques or Format

Inset vamp with fine puckering around toe, "T" heel seam, strip of red stroud inserted into seam between cuff and heel, cuff edge cut in saw-tooth pattern, hide ties threaded through body of moccasins and vamp, zig-zag band and single stitch quillwork

Other Notes

Ruth Phillips: construction of moccasins, saw-tooth quillwork stitch and red stroud fabric inserted between the seams are all characteristic of Cree work. Compare the design on the vamp to a pair of moccasins in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow (GLAHM E.109/2) which have a very similar vamp design interpreted in silk embroidery on a fabric vamp.

Condition: Very good, never worn, colours almost unfaded
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

18th or first half of 19th century

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: A.UC.343
GKS Reference Number: 24438
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Cree artist, moccasins. Currently at National Museums Scotland, A.UC.343. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007 in which the author took part; GRASAC item id 24438.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

9 Apr 2007 Ruth Phillips, On-site researchers: Cory Willmott, Heidi Bohaker, Laura Peers, Ruth Phillips, Keith Jamieson, Alan Corbiere, Henrietta Lidchi, Robert Storrie, Chantal Knowles, Brenda McGoff