Materials

blackened hide; silk ribbon, dark red (almost burgundy); moose hair, dyed red, cream, blue.

Techniques or Format

These moccasins are made with puckered toe construction with separate cuffs and a T seam at the heal. They are worked in moosehair embroidery.

Motifs and Patterns

The moccasins are worked with stylized floral motifs with an unusual border motif consisting of two scalloped lines that form rounded lozenges, with small circles or dots inside them (RP and CW say dots inside are most unusual -- haven't seen them before). The pattern is an alternating blue and red on different sides. All are different, no two are the same.

Condition: The moccasins are in a poor, fragile condition and shouldn't be touched. Their condition is so poor we can't establish whether they were used or not. The PRM object catalogue says that they are much worn. There is damage and exterior mould.

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

These were made between 1815-1830, based on style (RP).

Current Location: Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, United Kingdom

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1941.2.107.1-2

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1941

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Mrs. H.G. Beasley, Cranmore, Walden Road, Chislehurst, Kent.

Collection Narratives and Histories

These moccasins were part of a collection made by the late H.G. Beasley known as the Cranmore Museum and given to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1941 under the terms of his will.

GKS Reference Number: 26144

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Laura Peers (LP), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).