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Moccasins, pair
Moccasins, pair
Moccasins, pair
These relatives, a pair of moccasins, have been dyed black and embroidered with porcupine quills in stylized floral motifs, simple line and zigzag band stitches. Although some porcupine quills remain their natural white, others have been coloured blue and red. Of one-piece construction, the moccasins have no cuffs. Collected by British Army officer Jasper Grant between 1800 and 1809, the origins of the moccasins are not certain; however, they have probable connections to the Huron-Wendat.
This relative currently resides at the National Museum of Ireland.
Huron-Wendat
Based on the double curve and tri-lobe motifs, 'slipper' style without cuffs.
Read More About This Relative
Black-dyed, tanned deerskin; porcupine quill, blue, red, natural white; moosehair (?); sinew; commercial thread.
One-piece construction, quill work in simple line and zigzag band stitches, not cuffs
tri-lobe
The motifs, although larger and bolder, resemble the stylized floral elements seen on moosehair embroidered moccasins made by the Huron-Wendat in the first half of the nineteenth century. The absence of cuffs, which was apparently original, is unusual and suggest experimentation with traditional moccasin construction resulting from exposure to European shoe types.
This information was informed by the following resource: Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: Patterns of Power, 1984.
Provenance
Jasper Grant (1762-1812), Anglo-Irish officer who spent 9 years in Canada between 1800-1809. Served as commandant of Fort George in the Niagara Peninsula and of Fort Malden at Amherstburg opposite Detroit. It is likely that his wife, Isabella Grant, played a significant role in the collection of items given her close relationship to Madeline Askin Richardson, the daughter of a prominent fur trader and merchant with extensive ties to the surrounding Indigenous communities.
GRASAC research notes.
In 1984-1985 the Jasper Grant Collection was featured in a special travelling exhibition for the Ontario bicentennial, which was organized by the McMichael Canadian Collection and entitled "Patterns of Power."
Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg,On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.
Philips, Ruth B. (1986-87). “Jasper Grant and Edward Walsh: the Gentleman-Soldier as Early Collector of Great Lakes Indian Art.” Journal of Canadian Studies 21(4): 56-71.
About This GRASAC Record
Maker, Name unrecorded. Moccasins. GRASAC ID 25130. National Museum of Ireland Collection 1902.347.
This record was augmented by Dana Murray on July 19, 2024. It draws on images and information recorded in Ruth Phillips's book, Patterns of Power. Kleinburg, On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984, and GRASAC research notes from their trip to National Museum of Ireland on July 21, 2010. Participants included Alan Corbiere, Bhnens Corbiere, Crystal Migwans, Nikolaus Stolle, Rachel Hand, and Ruth Phillips, who were assisted by Padraig Clancy.
42.107, -83.1132
Fort Walden is provided as a possible origin for these moccasins. Fort Walden is identified on the map, but this reflects one potential place in the moccasin's life. It is not a known place of origin; it is only one location associated with where the collector, Jasper Grant, served in the British Army.