E0208: Inuit- Crampon

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0208

Classification Category:

3:Personal Artifacts ➞ Clothing ➞ Footwear

Materials:

animal ➔ bone
animal ➔ hide/skin ➔ leather

Dimensions:

12 cm L
3 cm W

Provenance of Object:

This object was held in the museum that Luther College started in 1877. This museum eventually grew into the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and following this, non-Norwegian American ethnographic objects were returned to Luther and accessioned into the college’s Anthropology Collection. Without additional documentation, was likely obtained by the Luther College Museum (later the Norwegian-American Museum) between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Use/Function:

The Inuit people attached spikes called 'crampons' to the bottom of their boots to get more grip when traveling on the ice, created traction and helped with traveling in ice and snow.

Source Locality:

Brevig Mission, Alaska, USA

Acquisition Date:

1894 – 1916

Description:

Inuit crampon made of bone and leather. Attached to boots to improve ability to walk in the snow and on ice. Donated by Rev. T.L. Brevig in 1898.

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