Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A fine pair of handmade children's moccasins, comprised of seal hide, cow, caribou, and rabbit fur. The skin of bearded seals is very tough and was the popular choice for the soles of shoes due to their durability. The upper part of the shoe is comprised of caribou hide with the fur side out, and a decorative border of blue, red, and white cow leather surrounds the toebox. At the center is a circular leather applique decorated with glass seed beads sewn in concentric circles. The foot opening is trimmed with fluffy white fur from an arctic rabbit, and both the interior and footbed are made from caribou hide. A beautiful and warm pair that would be cherished long after the child grew out of them! Size: 6" L x 2.5" W (15.2 cm x 6.4 cm)

Provenance: private Littleton, Colorado, USA collection; originally given as a baby gift to Robert Stone from Mr. and Mrs. Max C. Brewer, former director at the Arctic Research Laboratory, Barrow, Alaska, USA in 1966

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#165889

Loss to beads on one shoe. Signs of use and scuffs and staining to outer soles and interior foot bed. Losses to caribou hairs on the toebox of one. Musty smell from storage. Staining and discoloration to small areas of white trim. Toebox has some creasing and misshapen. Recommend displaying with a shoe insert to fill out the shape. Not recommended for wearing.