Mocassins

362-142 Tigua moccasins; hide, sinew, dye; l. 25 cm., h. 10 cm.; ca. 1880. In the Southwest, hide moccasins replaced prehistoric fiber sandals. The sole of this pair is of rawhide, while the upper consists of soft buckskin, dyed a reddish-brown for which mountain mahogany was used. The upper consists of three pieces, including the separate cuff, and all parts are stitched together with sinew. While moccasins for everyday use showed little decoration, those worn at ceremonial occasions could be elaborately embellished, the hide stained with pigments, strips of fur sewn on, patches of beadwork applied (Jeancon and Douglas 1930:15). (Hovens 2008-09)