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Moccasins
Moccasins
Moccasins
A pair of t-heel puckered toe moccasins, with red stroud vamps decorated with beadwork. Likely of Mistissini origin and made between 1821 and 1865. Donated to the Ashmolean museum in 1865 by Mrs. Birbeck, and transferred from the Ashmolean museum to the Pitt Rivers' museum in 1886.
The motifs are a-typical of the Anishinaabe(CW). They are most likely Eastern (Quebec) Cree, because of shape of cuff, the contrasting colour of cuff, and the inset red vamp (RP).
Pitt Rivers Object catalogue and observations made by the GRASAC research team.
Read More About This Relative
Hide, smoked and unsmoked deer or other; stroud, red, poor quality; thread, cotton; seed beads, white, green, mustard and dusty blue.
The moccasins are T-seamed with the foot turned up and gathered to the vamp with puckers. The vamp, which is decorated with seed beads, extends to form a short tongue. The moccasins were built to be worn - they do not appear have been made for the tourist trade. The cuff is meant to be worn up and tied around ankle. Waterproofing features are evident.
The vamp is decorated with two five-lobed motifs and a double-curved motif, done in couched beadwork.
The unsmoked cuff is white, and suggests that the moccasins may have been made for ceremonial use.
The moccasins cannot have been made later than 1865, as that is when they reached Pitt Rivers' collection. Based upon the use of red stroud, they were most likely made after the merging of the Hudson's Bay Company with the North West Company in 1821. Given these estimates, it is likely the moccasins were made between 1821 and 1865. N.B. George Birkbeck, who likely acquired these, died in 1841.
Provenance
One of several items transferred from the Ashmolean museum to the Pitt Rivers' museum in 1886. On February 17th 1865, they were donated to the Ashmolean museum by Mrs. Birkbeck, widow of Dr. Birkbeck, originator of the Mechanics' Institutes (1865). (Pitt Rivers Museum Object Catalogue entry) , Was originally acquired before 1865, as this is when they were donated to the Ashmolean museum. , This item's entry in the Ashmolean museum catalogue (1884) reads: "A pair of Canadian? or Mexican? Moccasins or slippers" (Pitt Rivers Museum Object Catalogue entry). [L Peers: NB George Birkbeck never went to North America, but was part of various scholarly groups and founded the Mechanics' Institute for educating labourers. He died in 1841, suggesting that these were collected before that date.]
About This GRASAC Record
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).
Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), Al Corbiere (AC), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Laura Peers (LP), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).