Costume
Jay's Ltd
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1920
Materials
Cotton linen mix, beads and ribbon
Measurements
125 mm (width); 80 mm (depth); 260 mm (length)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 671241.4.1
Summary
One of a pair of moccasin style shoes which are part of a children’s fancy dress costume based on a stereotypical representation of Native American dress. The shoe is made of a light brown fabric with orange triangular patterning around the bottom edge and red edging around the top. Red tape is threaded around the sides to be fastened at the front. The tongue piece has beaded decoration. Some overall staining to the fabric, and some small holes in the base. This fancy dress costume was bought from Jay’s Ltd for a children’s party in the 1920s. The clothes and accessories that make up the costume reflect a generic ‘American Indian’ stereotype which was depicted in Wild West stage shows and later Western films. Caricatures in these entertainments informed the game of 'Cowboys and Indians' which became popular in the United States and United Kingdom.
Provenance
Owned by donor’s family and donated to the Museum of Childhood by Jane Osgood in March 2011.
Makers and roles
Jay's Ltd, manufacturer Jay's Ltd, retailer