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Moccasins, quilled
Moccasins, quilled
Moccasins, quilled
A pair of moccasins decorated with curvilinear designs in porcupine quillwork. The insertion of fabric into the seam joining the cuff to the moccasin body, and the sawtooth quillwork technique are design elements characteristic Cree work. Probably made in the early 19th century. In the collections of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasg
An attached typewritten label reads 'Ojibway or Cree, early 19th century, Canada.'
On-site researchers noted that the technique of inserting fabric in the seam joining the cuff to the body of the moccasin is typical of northern Cree work; Ruth Phillips noted that the sawtooth stitch quillwork and use of alternating white and coloured quills to infill design elements are also characteristics of Cree work.
Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.
Read More About This Relative
Unsmoked hide (moose-hide?); porcupine quills, cream and dyed blue, red and black; green and red wool; sinew.
The moccasins have pointed toes, with small inset vamps and large cuffs cut from the same piece as moccasin body. There are hide ties threaded through slits in the vamps and cuffs. The moccasin is sewn with sinew. Quill embroidery in several different stitches including sawtooth stitch decorates the vamp. Green and red woollen fabric is inserted in the seams joining the cuffs to the moccasin bodies. There are trailers on the heels.
Curvilinear designs.
On-site researchers noted that the technique of inserting fabric in the seam joining the cuff to the body of the moccasin is typical of northern Cree work; Ruth Phillips noted that the sawtooth stitch quillwork and use of alternating white and coloured quills to infill design elements are also characteristics of Cree work.
An attached typewritten label reads 'Ojibway or Cree early 19th century, Canada.'
Provenance
Phelps, Steven. 1976 Art and artefacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas : the James Hooper Collection / [by] Steven Phelps Hutchinson [for Christie, Manson & Woods] (London) p. 328, 344 and 345.
About This GRASAC Record
Item to be cited by catalog number, collection and institution.
This record was created during a GRASAC research visit to The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, April 2007.
On-site researchers: Cory Willmott, Laura Peers, Ruth Phillips, Keith Jamieson, Alan Corbiere, Sally-Ann Coupar