A moccasin made of mooseskin with floral quillwork embroidery

A moccasin made of mooseskin with floral quillwork embroidery and wide flaps to wrap round the ankle, secured by stros of skin. The edges of the flaps are pinked and the vamp is embroidered with porcupine quill and edged in bird quill. There is a welt at the heel with the edges of the seam on the outside. The other mocassin of the pair is AAA9293.

It is part of a collection of ethnographic material made by Admiral Sir George Back (1796-1878). Back took part in three overland journeys to explore the north coast of America in 1819-1822, 1825-1827 and 1833-35. He travelled north via the network of rivers and lakes on the Canadian Shield stopping at Hudson Bay Company trading posts where he had the opportunity to acquire this type of material which relates to the eastern subarctic region. Part of his collection was bequeathed to Greenwich Hospital in 1900 by Mrs Eliza Back, widow of Sir George's nephew - the Reverend Henry Back.

Object Details

ID: AAA2630
Collection: World Cultures
Type: Moccasin
Display location: Not on display
Date made: 1819-1834; 1819-34
People: Back, George
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection
Measurements: Overall: 115 x 275 x 185 mm