E0950A: Inuit- Moccasin

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0950A

Classification Category:

10:Unclassifiable Artifacts

Materials:

animal ➔ hide/skin ➔ leather

Dimensions:

15.5 cm L
6 cm W
7 cm H

Provenance of Object:

Alaska, U.S.

Production Date:

1911-1912

Use/Function:

"Moccasins vary in size, but are recognizable as clothing items for Native Americans across the country. Though made of similar materials, soft leather stitched together by sinew, the different patterns, cuts, and decorative beadworking, quillwork, fringes, or painted designs actually served as a way to differentiate between tribes. Moccasins were used as everyday footwear, made to be durable and comfortable and designed to protect the wearer’s feet from the harsh outdoor conditions and be stealthy during hunting. The Inuit were known for their invention of the heavier-duty boots called mukluks, which were made of sealskin, fur, and reindeer hide and frequently lined with rabbit fur for added warmth."- To the Cage and Back Exhibit.

Source Locality:

Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

Acquisition Date:

1911 – 1912

Description:

Inuit children's moccasin. Donated by Esther Johnson Wallace (1911-1912).

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