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Moccasins
Moccasins
Moccasins
These relatives, a pair of moccasins, are composed of tanned deerskin, dyed porcupine quills, silk ribbon, silk thread, and glass beads. Of one piece construction, these moccasins have three small hide pieces added to ankle flap. The quill work is applied over the vamp and heel seams in diamond and simple line stitches, as well as five Thunderbirds on each moccassin. Silk ribbon has been appliqued to the cuffs. Porcupine quills include natural white as well as those dyed red, green, blue, and yellow. Silk is dark blue, light blue, and pink. Silk thread is yellow, pink, and blue. Glass beads are white. These moccasins were collected by British Army officer Jasper Grant between 1800 and 1809. The origin of these relatives is associated with the Great Lakes region, the Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee or Wyandot.
This relative currently resides at the National Museum of Ireland.
Potential ties to Wyandot.
Possibly Anishinaabe because of the motif on the vamp, the Thunderbirds on the cuffs, and the nations with which Grant was primarily in contact in the Amherstberg area.
Read More About This Relative
Tanned deerskin; porcupine quills, white, red, green, blue, yellow; silk ribbon, dark blue, light blue, pink; silk thread, yellow, pink, blue; glass beads, white.
One piece construction with three small hide pieces added to ankle flap; Quill work over vamp and heel seams; two quill diamond and simple line stitches; silk ribbon appliqued to cuffs.
This period corresponds with the Grant Collection dates.
Provenance
Jasper Grant (1762-1812), Anglo-Irish officer who spent 9 years in Canada between 1800-1809. Served as commandant of Fort George in the Niagara Peninsula and of Fort Malden at Amherstburg opposite Detroit. It is likely that his wife, Isabella Grant, played a significant role in the collection of items given her close relationship to Madeline Askin Richardson, the daughter of a prominent fur trader and merchant with extensive ties to the surrounding Indigenous communities.
GRASAC researcher notes from research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 21, 2010.
In 1984-1985 the Jasper Grant Collection was featured in a special travelling exhibition for the Ontario bicentennial, which was organized by the McMichael Canadian Collection and entitled "Patterns of Power."
An artifact tag states that moccasins were loaned to the Cork Pub. Museum in 1992. The purpose and duration of the loan unknown.
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.
Philips, Ruth B. (1986-87). “Jasper Grant and Edward Walsh: the Gentleman-Soldier as Early Collector of Great Lakes Indian Art.” Journal of Canadian Studies 21(4): 56-71.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Name unknown. Moccasins. GRASAC ID: 25660. National Museum of Ireland, 1902.342.
This records was augmented by Dana Murray on August 9, 2024. It draws on information recorded during the GRASAC research trip to the National Museum of Ireland on July 21, 2010. Participants included Alan Corbiere, Bhnens Corbiere, Crystal Migwans, Nikolaus Stolle, Rachel Hand, and Ruth Phillips, who were assisted by Padraig Clancy.
42.107, -83.1132
This information was informed by the following resource: Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: Patterns of Power, 1984. Fort Walden is identified on the map as a possible origin for this relative, but this reflects only one place where the relative may have lived. It is not a known place of origin; it is only one location associated with where the collector, Jasper Grant, served in the British Army.