Museum catalogue: Arctic Material Culture Collection

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a: One pair, woman's, thigh length. Boots (a,b) are made from three main pieces of dehaired seal skin. A single piece of dark brown seal skin forms the sole, which is turned over the foot and crimped slightly at the toe. A ridge of dehaired cream seal skin is inserted into the seam between the sole and upper foot. Leg section is made from one main piece of dehaired seal skin painted red. An additional triangular piece of same is inserted on each side of the foot. Decorative panel is inserted vertically down front of leg and foot. Panel consists of a central geometric mosaic of small pieces of white, blue, green, yellow, and brown dehaired seal skin flanked by 11 mm wide vertical strips of cream seal skin appliqued on a 41 mm wide strip of dehaired seal skin painted red. V-shaped panel of same is inserted at the upper edge of front. 62 mm wide cuff of cream dehaired seal skin is sewn across straight upper edge. Lower edge of cuff is decorated with small pieces of red, green, brown, gold and blue dehaired seal skin applied in geometric motif. Stockings (c,d) are inserted into boots and project 103 mm from top. Each is made from seal skin with the fur to the interior. 115 mm wide cuff of seal skin with the fur to the exterior is sewn to straight upper edge of each stocking. Structural sewing and applique are with sinew and beige thread. Hole in boot (a) repaired with patch on interior.

b: One pair, woman's, thigh length. Boots (a,b) are made from three main pieces of dehaired seal skin. A single piece of dark brown seal skin forms the sole, which is turned over the foot and crimped slightly at the toe. A ridge of dehaired cream seal skin is inserted into the seam between the sole and upper foot. Leg section is made from one main piece of dehaired seal skin painted red. An additional triangular piece of same is inserted on each side of the foot. Decorative panel is inserted vertically down front of leg and foot. Panel consists of a central geometric mosaic of small pieces of white, blue, green, yellow, and brown dehaired seal skin flanked by 11 mm wide vertical strips of cream seal skin appliqued on a 41 mm wide strip of dehaired seal skin painted red. V-shaped panel of same is inserted at the upper edge of front. 62 mm wide cuff of cream dehaired seal skin is sewn across straight upper edge. Lower edge of cuff is decorated with small pieces of red, green, brown, gold and blue dehaired seal skin applied in geometric motif. Stockings (c,d) are inserted into boots and project 103 mm from top. Each is made from seal skin with the fur to the interior. 115 mm wide cuff of seal skin with the fur to the exterior is sewn to straight upper edge of each stocking. Structural sewing and applique are with sinew and beige thread. Hole in boot (a) repaired with patch on interior.

c: One pair, woman's, thigh length. Boots (a,b) are made from three main pieces of dehaired seal skin. A single piece of dark brown seal skin forms the sole, which is turned over the foot and crimped slightly at the toe. A ridge of dehaired cream seal skin is inserted into the seam between the sole and upper foot. Leg section is made from one main piece of dehaired seal skin painted red. An additional triangular piece of same is inserted on each side of the foot. Decorative panel is inserted vertically down front of leg and foot. Panel consists of a central geometric mosaic of small pieces of white, blue, green, yellow, and brown dehaired seal skin flanked by 11 mm wide vertical strips of cream seal skin appliqued on a 41 mm wide strip of dehaired seal skin painted red. V-shaped panel of same is inserted at the upper edge of front. 62 mm wide cuff of cream dehaired seal skin is sewn across straight upper edge. Lower edge of cuff is decorated with small pieces of red, green, brown, gold and blue dehaired seal skin applied in geometric motif. Stockings (c,d) are inserted into boots and project 103 mm from top. Each is made from seal skin with the fur to the interior. 115 mm wide cuff of seal skin with the fur to the exterior is sewn to straight upper edge of each stocking. Structural sewing and applique are with sinew and beige thread. Hole in boot (a) repaired with patch on interior.

d: One pair, woman's, thigh length. Boots (a,b) are made from three main pieces of dehaired seal skin. A single piece of dark brown seal skin forms the sole, which is turned over the foot and crimped slightly at the toe. A ridge of dehaired cream seal skin is inserted into the seam between the sole and upper foot. Leg section is made from one main piece of dehaired seal skin painted red. An additional triangular piece of same is inserted on each side of the foot. Decorative panel is inserted vertically down front of leg and foot. Panel consists of a central geometric mosaic of small pieces of white, blue, green, yellow, and brown dehaired seal skin flanked by 11 mm wide vertical strips of cream seal skin appliqued on a 41 mm wide strip of dehaired seal skin painted red. V-shaped panel of same is inserted at the upper edge of front. 62 mm wide cuff of cream dehaired seal skin is sewn across straight upper edge. Lower edge of cuff is decorated with small pieces of red, green, brown, gold and blue dehaired seal skin applied in geometric motif. Stockings (c,d) are inserted into boots and project 103 mm from top. Each is made from seal skin with the fur to the interior. 115 mm wide cuff of seal skin with the fur to the exterior is sewn to straight upper edge of each stocking. Structural sewing and applique are with sinew and beige thread. Hole in boot (a) repaired with patch on interior.

• correspondence in SPRI Archives

• a: Width: 246mm (upper edge), height: 560mm
• b: Width: 246mm (upper edge), height: 555mm
• c: Height: 665mm
• d: Height: 640mm