mkizin moccasin

mkizin moccasin

mkizin moccasin

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Introduction

This single moccasin, mkizin, is missing its mate. It is constructed from a single piece with a centre seam decorated with woven quillwork. The flaps, each with their own woven quillwork band, were added on. The quills are red, white, black and blue/turquoise. There are white beads at the rear of each woven strip on the flaps, and the ankle flaps have rows of tinkle cones with red-dyed hair. Across the front or leading edge of both ankle flaps, going over the foot, is a row of white and navy beads that may be what is called "faux wampum." The specific cultural origins of this moccasin are difficult to discern, with GRASAC researchers identifying potential connections to Delaware, Sauk, Fox, and Algonkian peoples.

This relative currently resides in the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Germany.

Nation of Maker: Algonquin Delaware Other
Nation of Origin

Sauk, Fox, Delaware, Algonkian

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Museum documentation: the catalogue contains difficult to decipher handwriting in German, but both Sauk and Fox appear in a comment. GRASAC researcher analysis of the moccasin's style and construction did not clearly align this moccasin with one nation or place. They thought it could be Southern Great Lakes, south of Lake Ontario or south of Lake Superior - Delaware, Sauk or Fox. They thought it was less likely to be central or central north Great Lakes. They thought it did not look Haudenosaunee. To the team, it appeared broadly Alongkian.

Date Made or Date Range: 18th century
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and GRASAC researcher notes

Materials

hide; glass beads; possibly ceramic beads; porcupine quill; tinkle cones; deer hair; ochre; cotton or linen thread

Techniques or Format

One-piece moccasin construction with a centre seam. Ankle flaps added on. Lifting both flaps to look underneath, the cutting appears quite uneven. However, it does seem to align with a stitching line for the quill bands and where the tinkles were affixed
Woven quillwork and traces of embroidered quill work.
Dyed quills.
Laura Peers identified remnants of red on the hide around the foot opening and wondered if there had been a strip of ochre-painted hide there once.

Motifs and Patterns

The woven quillwork patterns on each ankle flap are distinct. They feature diamond, zig zag and hourglass motifs. Embroidered wavy lines also present.
Wampum, "faux wampum" beads

Additional Context

This relative generated much discussion among the GRASAC research team. They noted the significant amount of blue-dyed quills. The white and navy beads running across the flaps and foot of the moccasin made sense as "faux wampum." Alan Corbiere observed that it appears these beads would have been present on the back of the flaps as well. Comparing to wampum beads in the Museum, Alan Corbiere and Laura Peers identified the blue beads a glass, and thought that the white beads were ceramic, and looked similar to manufactured wampum beads.
In thinking about who may have created this moccasin, GRASAC researchers found it difficult to align this moccasin with a specific culture or nation. Alan Corbiere observed that the toe piece is common to the Great Lakes, but that the diamond, hourglass and zig zag motifs all felt a little different from what is usually seen. Laura Peers agreed that the construction, design and materials all indicated a Great Lakes origin, but thought these were broadly Algonkian and likely from south of Lake Ontario or Lake Superior. She reflected that in the 18th century, this moccasin could have been worn by any number of people; there were many refugees in the region at that time.

Description of Writing/Text

A tag with handwriting is attached to this moccasin. GRASAC research efforts to decipher the text produced two possibilities: "Okye Genau Augabey" or "O _ _ C Genau Augabe" The museum records include the word Ausgabe (which translates to output, edition, or issue).

Original and Subsequent Uses

Footwear.

Other Notes

It would be valuable for someone to decipher the German handwriting on the catalogue card. There may be associations with IV-B-6360 and IV-B-6361, and there may also be a reference to a publication, "Orchard" pg 34/7?

Condition: There is a conservation mesh over the quillwork. Some repairs are also visible. Alan Corbiere observed that, usually, the thread on the toe is where the quillwork over the centre seam would be anchored; Laura Peers suspected that the quill was eaten by insects, leaving only the thread visible.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Museum documentation and visual analysis of the moccasin

Current Location: Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Germany
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: IV-B-216 B
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1844
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Indecipherable and also seemingly crossed out on catalogue card.
Source for Provenance information

Museum documentation

GKS Reference Number: 59173
How to Cite this Item

Maker unknown. Mkizin moccasin. GRASAC ID 59173. Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Catalogue Number IV-B-216 B.

Record Creation Context

This record was created by Cara Krmpotich on March 14, 2024 drawing on photographs and research notes produced during a GRASAC research visit to the Museum in May 2019. Present for the visit were Cara Krmpotich, Alan Corbiere, Laura Peers, Maureen Matthews, with Hannah Turner and Charles Feaver on photography. Curator Monika Zessnik supported the team throughout the visit. It augments an earlier record created by Nikolaus Stolle, including photographs by Stolle, supported by Ruth Phillips research funding.

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