Materials

fabric, black velvet; ribbon, red silk; beadwork; buckskin; thread

Techniques or Format

There is a seam up the heel of each moccasin as well as down the front (through the vamp. Each is made from a single piece of buckskin. On the cuffs, there are strips of velvet and ribbon sewn over the buckskin and the beadwork is sewn through the buckskin, not just the fabric.

Motifs and Patterns

The vamp of the moccasins is covered with beadwork in a heraldic shape containing a five-pointed maple leaf. The leaf is done in green beads surrounded by two rows of red beads surrounded by one row of white. The background of the heraldic shape is sky blue and the entire shape is outlined by a row of white beads as well.

The cuffs are covered in black velvet with strips of red silk ribbon along the bottom. The three edges besides the top fold are surrounded by small groupings, about .5 centimeters apart, of two small white beads. There is also a geometric design of diamonds and curves in yellow beads above the red ribbon.

Condition: Good condition, the inside of the moccasins appears somewhat worn, though there are few wear marks and little discoloration on the bottom of them. The beads appear to all be intact.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Object record. Also, the moccasins are visually consistent with others produced between ~1880 and 1930.

Current Location: Pomona College Museum of Art, Claremont, CA, USA

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: P1535

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1934

GKS Reference Number: 27194