Pair Of Women's Boots Made Of Beaded Deer Leather

Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Great Lakes region, circa 1875–1900

A rare pair of traditional women’s boots made of carefully tanned deer hide, entirely hand-sewn and adorned with a remarkable floral design in polychrome glass beads.

The tall, supple uppers are fastened with a lateral leather lacing. Their upper edge is cut in a sawtooth pattern, a detail characteristic of certain late 19th-century works by the Great Lakes peoples. The soles, also made of hide, show signs of age-old wear consistent with traditional use.

The beaded decoration, executed with great finesse, features large, blooming flowers, stylized leaves, and an elegant butterfly. This composition belongs to the floral repertoire developed by Anishinaabe women, a style that became emblematic of Great Lakes art in the 19th century. The perfectly balanced colors lend the piece great elegance without excessive ornamentation.

The condition is particularly good: most of the beads are intact, the leather remains supple, and the original laces are still present.

Given the quality of their craftsmanship, their authenticity, and their excellent condition, these boots are a fine example of Anishinaabe women’s clothing art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Characteristics

• Region: Great Lakes (Canada / northern United States)

• Culture: Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), probable attribution

• Date: circa 1875–1900

• Materials: deer hide, glass beads, leather