Ethnology Collection - Embroidered Moose-Hair Spectacles Case

Beauty Knows No Boundaries

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Embroidery of birch bark with moose hair was first practiced by the Ursuline nuns of Quebec in about 1700. Think of the wide range of objects and designs that a skilled artisan could create using these two versatile, natural materials. It’s easy to see why the technique eventually caught on with many First Nations people, including the Mi’kmaq. But when something crosses cultures this successfully, it can be difficult to trace the exact origins of an object. We think this splendid spectacles case from the 1800s comes from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia.

Object type: 
Quilled Edged - Moose Hair Embroidered Spectacle Case
Object #: 
Z820
Collection name: 
Curator: 
Date (age/made): 
19th Century
Origin/place: 
Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia
Materials: 
Porcupine Quill, Birch Bark, Moosehair, Aniline Dye.
Dimensions: 
14 cm x 9 cm