Moccasins

Moccasins

Moccasins

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Introduction

Beaded buckskin front-seam moccasins created by Lena Johnson, Seneca, of Cattaraugus Seneca reservation, NY. White and red beadwork in dome motifs cover the front seam; tree and dome motifs in white glass beads decorate the cuffs, which are made of black wool. Collected by William A. Ritchie, Curator of Anthropology, Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences, for the Indian Arts Project, and received by Peabody in an exchange in 1949.

Name of Maker(s): Lena Johnson
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

catalog data

Date Made or Date Range: before 1949
Materials

White and red glass beads; Hide - possibly moose, wool cuffs, silk or polyester(has a sheen) ribbon sewn along the bottom edge of the cuffs. Edges of cuffs ornamented with beadwork.

Techniques or Format

Each moccasin made of a single piece of hide with foldover cuffs and cenral seam that has been ornamented with beadwork. Heel seam is sewn in a modified 'T' shape. Green wool cloth is sewn over the leather cuffs, ribbon is sewn to bottom edge of the cuff and beadwork is applied along teh border of the cuffs.

Motifs and Patterns

Trees, domes, diamonds and flowers

Other Notes

the soles indicate wear

Dimensions: 28 × 9 × 0.5 cm
Condition: good
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

given to museum in an exchange with Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences in 1949.

Current Location: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 49-10-10/29420
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1949
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: William A. Ritchie, Curator of Anthropology, Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: before 1949
Collection Narratives and Histories

Obtained by the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences from Lena Johnson at Cattaraugus Seneca reservation, NY, for the Indian Arts Project; obtained by Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology via exchange, through intermediary William A. Ritchie in 1949. Intermediary William A. Ritchie, curator of Anthropology at Rochester. "We are sending you today by express prepared a collection of Seneca Indian articles made on New York Reservations during W.P.A. times under the Indian Arts Project."

GKS Reference Number: 45098
Record Creation Context

Visit to Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) of Wahsontiio Cross and Alexandra Nahwegahbow, assisted by Meredith Vasta on 11-12 August 2015.

Approximate Place of Origin

42.7, -92.2

Source of Information about Places

Cattaraugus Seneca reservation, NY (catalog data)

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