Materials

black dyed smoked hide, moose hair dyed orange, white, pale blue, and beige-- pink (faded from red) silk ribbon binding.

Techniques or Format

significant detail -- gathered hide around the vamp (in French use term for "puckered). (JBrant: to achieve even gather, must start in the centre of the toe) Elongated inset vamp. Moosehair applique in oversewn line technique. Upright ankel flaps with pink (likely faded from red) silk ribbon binding. Inverted T heel seam, vertical cuff in two pieces.

Motifs and Patterns

stylized floral on vamp and cuff. Design field is densely packed, double curves. Fiddlehead motifs. Design field is framed by shallow scallops in white. Design follows the shape/form of the vent and the cuff.

Condition: poor, one moccassin in particular has "fragmentary skin", moosehair loss, and loss of ribbon binding aroudn 1 moccassion. LS says fragility of skin due to dye technique. small holes in hide. On mocassin with extant silk binding there is a tear, now repaired, which runs from the vamp into the sole.

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

When Lyell was in NA.

Current Location: Canadian Museum of History, Ottawa, Canada

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: III-H-427ab

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1973

Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Speyer, Arthur

Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1841/1845

Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected likely by the famous British naturalist Sir Charles Lyell as this pair was in his collection. Speyer acquired from Lyell. Lyell (1797-1875) was in Nova Scotia in 1841, again in NA in 1845. , Lyell in NA in 1841 and again in 1845. ,

GKS Reference Number: 25725

How to Cite this Item

Item to be cited by catalog number, collection and institution.

Record Creation Context

GRASAC sponsored research trip to the CMC, June 16 to 20. Supported by the SSHRC Aboriginal Research Grant, 2007-2010.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Ruth Phillips (RP), Judy Hall (JH), Anne de Stecher (AS), Heidi Bohaker (HB), Aaron Mills (AM), Linda Sioui (LS). Also Jameson Brant (JB).