moccasins, quill embroidered

moccasins, quill embroidered

moccasins, quill embroidered

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Introduction

A pair of Seneca style Haudenosaunee/Hodenosaunee moccasins datable to the first half of the 19th century. Made of native tanned deerskin ornamented with quillwork in zig-zag band and wavy linear designs. Deposited at the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology by the Trinity College Library in 1914.

Nation of Maker: Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee Seneca
Nation of Origin

Based on their similarity to the style of moccasins documented among the Seneca by Lewis Henry Morgan in the 1840s. The old tags with the moccasins associate them with the Delaware.

Date Made or Date Range: 1800 to 1850
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Materials

native tanned deer hide, lightly smoked; green silk ribbon; porcupine quills, natural and dyed red-orange and green; white glass beads; thread.

Techniques or Format

The moccasins have a single piece construction with a centre vamp seam. Green silk ribbon is used as binding on the cuff edges, and three rows of zig-zag band quillwork cover the centre vamp seam. These are bordered by seven rows of single quill stitching and parallel and opposed wavy lines along outer border of vamp and along cuffs.

Motifs and Patterns

Wavy lines.

Additional Context

RP notes the wavy lines may be power lines.

Dimensions: 26.5 × 11 × 0 cm
Condition: Very good. There is some deterioration of the silk ribbon.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

This attribution is based on the use of native tanned hide, the single piece and centre-seam construction, and the style of quillwork which is illustrated by Lewis Henry Morgan in his 1840s fieldwork notes and reports.

Current Location: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Z 35126.1-2
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1914
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Trinity College Library
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1850-1914
Collection Narratives and Histories

Deposited at Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology by the Trinity College Library in 1914.

Sources to Learn More

For comparison with moccasins in Morgan's collection, see L.H. Morgan, Report to the Regents of the University, December 31, 1849 (Third Regents Report), plates 1 and 2; L.H. Morgan, Report on the Fabrics, Inventions, Implements and Utensils of the Iroquois (Fifth Regents Report), Jan 22, 1851, plate 11.

GKS Reference Number: 24940
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee/Seneca artist, moccasins, quill embroidered. Currently in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Z 35126.1-2. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip May 2009; GRASAC item id 24940.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a GRASAC research trip to Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 4-9 2009.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Participants: Trudy Nicks, Laura Peers, Alison Brown, Sherry Farrell-Racette, Rachel Hand, Ruth Phillips, Stacey Loyer, and Amber Berson.

Approximate Place of Origin

45.6426, -85.036

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