Moccasins c. 1890

These moccasins were made by an A'aninin (Gros Ventre) artist, with buckskin and glass beads. Beadwork such as this reflects not only the skill of the maker, but also the economic and cultural exchanges across the Great Plains. Before European contact, indigenous artists used porcupine quills to decorate clothing and other objects. Glass beads became widely available through trade networks in the 19th century, and were quickly adopted as a new medium. The pink beads are particularly interesting. The color was made possible by industrial chemistry, and speaks to the globalized world in which the A'aninin people found themselves. These moccasins also carry forward indigenous aesthetic traditions through the designs, while also critiquing the institutions of art and social norms. To fully understand these moccasins, one needs to consider a range of sources, including trading records, museum collections, and the oral histories of the A'aninin people. It is through this type of research that the true historical importance of art is revealed, contextualized within the relevant social and institutional structures.