Belt, moose hair

Belt, moose hair

Belt, moose hair

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Introduction

This belt was created with moose hair, black and white silk satin, and cardboard. The asymmetrical design was embroidered with floral motifs including strawberries and worked with moose hair dyed in greens, blues, orange, and brown. This belt was likely created among the Huron during 1800s and acquired by the museum in 1914 from Mrs. Rita Picotte Wilkinson.

Nation of Maker: Huron-Wendat
Date Made or Date Range: 1800s
Materials

Moose hair; worked on fugitive-black silk satin; thin cardboard material inside belt wrapped in silk; cotton string piping along the edge, enclosed in white satin, most of which is disintegrated, some fragments are left; stitched with black silk thread; red silk backing. Dyed moose hair: undyed, green (2), blue (2), orange, brown

Techniques or Format

No evidence of how the belt attached, perhaps a clasp. Cardboard center wrapped in silk, then embroidered upon. Cotton piping exposed, once surrounded by white silk, some remnants remain.

Motifs and Patterns

Central floral motif flanked by two completely separate designs. Not symmetric. Presence of strawberries.

Description of Writing/Text

248

Dimensions: 26.75 × 2 × 0 in
Condition: Some fraying along the edge of belt, piping almost completely unattached. Overall fragile.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

technique of knotting dates it to before 1850

Current Location: Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1914 047 0011
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1914
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Mrs. Rita Picotte Wilkinson
GKS Reference Number: 26262
Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

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