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Moccasins

Pair of Esquimeaux Indian moccasins decorated with black, red and white porcupine quill work on the vamp. Acquired from the Hudson's Bay Company (early 19th century). Pair of Esquimeaux Indian moccasins decorated with black, red and white porcupine quill work on the vamp. Acquired from the Hudson's Bay Company (early 19th century). © Trustees of the British Museum, acc. no. Am.2589.a-b.

Moccasins are a form of footwear, consisting of sole and sides made from one piece of leather and stitched together at the top. The sole is normally soft and flexible. Sometimes a vamp (upper part of the footwear) is added from a separate piece of material. Moccasins can just cover the foot or reach up as far as the calf of the wearer.

Moccasins form some of the earliest known types of footwear and can be found in Asia, Europe as well as North America. Felt-like moccasins made from artificial fibres are used by some sheepshearers in Australia and New Zealand, as they are soft, warm and easy to wash.

Moccasins from among the North American Indians can be made from a variety of materials, but many are made of either leather or felt. The top of the moccasin is often embellished with decorative needlework, such as beads, embroidery, quillwork, moose hair tassels, and so forth. The type of decorative materials used and the style of the decoration are often related to the specific group the wearer belongs to.

The word moccasin derives from North America and more specifically from the Algonquian word, makasin, meaning footwear or shoe. Similar sounding words can be found in other North American Indian languages.

British Museum online catalogue (retrieved 14th August 2015).

GVE

Last modified on Thursday, 21 September 2017 18:12