26/3/2014 Souliers de boeuf | Gabe the Shootist
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Souliers de boeufPosted on February 21, 2012
Years ago, when I was involved in the Great Lakes Fur trade I
became very fond of my heavy cowhide
moccasins. This type of moccasin was made in Montreal for use by
the voyageurs. The cordonniers of
Montreal also used this basis pattern to make a high top
moccasin called souliers de boeuf. I have altered a set
of my heavy cowhide Dyer brand moccasins to this style.
Gabe the Shootist"Sometimes I wonder whether the
world is being run by smart people who
are putting us on, or by imbeciles who
really mean it." Mark Twain
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Reference: The Voyageurs Sketchbook.
P.S. Alfred Jacob Miller portrays his subjects as wearing pucker
toe or Ojibwa style moccasins. These were
common in the Great Lakes area and parts east. According to the
map on Nativetech.org
[http://www.nativetech.org/clothing/moccasin/mocmap.html] pucker
toe and center seam moccasins were
used by the tribes in the north-east and south-east parts of
North America, most tribes west of the Mississippi
used a side seam or two piece with a hard sole. Rex Allen Norman
in his 1837 sketchbook questions the
depiction of pucker toe moccasins by Miller, as does Landry and
Chronister in their article about mountain
clothing from the Book of Buckskinning Vol.VII. From my study, I
believe Miller shows the pucker toe because
most of Stewarts party were French-Canadians. Antoine, Pierre,
Auguste and Jean are all described as being
French-Canadians or Canadians. Being on a hunting excursion from
St. Louis they may have brought clothing
and gear from back home rather than trade from the Indians. Even
if they had to make new moccasins while
on the trip it is reasonable to assume they would follow the
pattern of their existing items with which they
were familiar and comfortable.
This entry was posted in Historical Clothing and Equipment and
tagged cordonnier, Dyer, Great Lakes Fur trade, moccasins,
Montreal, souliers de boeuf, Voyageur.
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Related
Side seam moccasins Summary Comments on the Works of Alfred
Jacob Miller.
Observations on Miller
In "Historical Clothing and Equipment"
In "Historical Clothing and Equipment"
In "Historical Clothing and Equipment"
Ron says:
February 21, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Gabe,
Youve made a great alteration, Im always looking for ways to
improve foot ware. Doing most any primitive activity in the
mountains requires the feet to be comfortable.
