"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

MOCCASINS

Of all the antiques and collectibles I've bought and sold over the years, the Native American ones are the only things I never parted with. I don't know why. I guess maybe because of the historical factor and the fact that there are finite numbers of the old stuff. I have stacks of books covering Native Americana and I'm embarrassed to say, its been too long since I have read them because I can't remember anything about these moccasins. The bead work designs, the beads themselves, colors of beads, style of moccasins, what the moccasins are made of and stitches etc. are all ways to discern the area and tribe they came from. The top ones are women's moccasins. Believe it or not, the women made all the clothes and yet, menswear and children's clothing are worth the most. The top moccasins are from the Arapaho tribe.

The rest of the moccasins are either children's or baby moccasins. They also are all Plains tribes.

Though older, early moccasins wouldn't have used colored leather. They did use natural dyes and dyed porcupine quill work was used by the tribes in the Northeastern U.S.


The bottoms of these are made of parfleche (brain tanned deer hide) and are sinew sewn. Moccasins from the northeastern U.S. were made from moose hide and smell smoky from the tanning process.








These baby mocs were from Kansas and are older (early 20th century) and made for the souvenir trade. If the moccasins were beaded all over (on the bottoms too) they were burial moccasins.





15 comments:

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Oooh, they are spectacular examples !
I love it when Antiques Roadshow feature a pair of Moccasins, the history and stories that follow them are truly awesome.
You have a little treasure trove there !
Stay Warm !

Sunny said...

What a marvelous collection. Such amazing handiwork.
Thank you for sharing.
Sunny :)

Xi said...

lovely moccasins!!!

BB said...

Hi Donna. I found out about your blog ?!,,,well I don´t really don´t know where, to tell you the truth.I sometimes ramble trough other´s People blogs just as a past time and leave comments here and there. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I LEFT A SMALL COMMENT TO AWNSER YOUR QUESTION ON THE ALENTEJO SONG POST.
Cheers !

P.S. Loved the mocassins.

decorator to the stars said...

HI, LOVE YOUR BLOG, STOP BY & SAY HI:) GIO

Dixie said...

Hey Donna... Those mocassins are absolutely beautiful... You're the perfect person to cherish them...

The little girl with the two dogs in my header photo isn't a book. It's an art piece that Candy's best friend, Terry, made and I purchased in their booth in December. You can read about it here...

http://frenchlique.blogspot.com/2009/12/wonderful-day-of-celebrating-thrifting.html

and if you really love it.. I'm sure she'd be happy to make one just for you... I sent mine to my sweet little 7-year old granddaughter... the Panda... she loves it!

blessings.. Dixie

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, Donna, what a fabulous collection! This is making my Native American DNA tingle with delight. I LOVE these.

trash talk said...

Donna, they are spectacular, but what makes it even better is the fact you love them so much, you took the time to learn. I love it when there is a back story and history involved in collections. It gives it life and not just inanimate objects. I collect the beaded whimsys that were made by the Iroquois for the tourist trade. To me, like your moccasins, they are little works of art. I would never have the patience to do such intricate work.
Loved seeing yours. Thank you!
Debbie

Susan said...

I feel connected already.....dogs and carved, wooden dogs. They are in my world too. Nice, earthy, down to home, blog. Felt like a picnic! thanks

Xi said...

Donna

Left 45 days for Inés`birth.

I´m really moved...

Greetings from Chile.

Mary-Laure said...

AAAAWWW, those baby mocassins!!!! How adorable are they...

Mélanie said...

they are lovely !! Great collection !! I love their story

Mrsupole said...

As children when we traveled through Arizona our parents bought us some little moccasins beaded all over. I do not think they were burial moccasins, but instead were just sold as souveniers. I think we kept them until we were teenagers and they fell apart. We really liked them and were sad when they broke.

Your collection is amazing and so is your story about them. Thank you for sharing.

God bless.

Cobalt Violet said...

They are incredibly beautiful! I have always loved moccasins ... I am feeling like maybe I need a pair! (Just wearable ones for now!) Thanks you for this post!

corine @ hidden in france said...

fabulous! I went to a pow wow (in Palm Springs of all places) and I was mesmerized by the colors and the bead work. And the the drums, what fantastic energy. I loved it all.