Native American Snowshoe XIX

Exceptionally fine 19th century snowshoe. Thus labelled by a military doctor collector "Multi-ethnic, - bore a label indicating Canada - snowshoe. Made of an ellipsoid frame composed of a single wooden slat (maple?) with a development of 2.10m - trimmed with a fine mesh as regular as it is artistic made with babiche: very fine strips cut from raw elk skin - when weaving it the babiche was soaked in warm water so that it exuded a sort of glue which consolidated the lattice as it dried. Attached to the feet with a strap passing through the holes located at the front of the central lattice." When the first French immigrants arrived in the Saint Lawrence Valley, at the beginning of the 17th century, the snowshoe was in universal use among the Amerindians. It allowed them to move around in winter without sinking into deep snow. The French immediately imitated them to go about sometimes vital occupations such as hunting, waging war, communicating with each other or obtaining firewood. In the 19th century, snowshoeing became a very popular leisure activity in all levels of society.