Objects Database

Mukluks - British Antarctic Survey

Accession Number

1419.2017.1

Object Name

Mukluks - British Antarctic Survey

Created

09/11/2017

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

09/11/2017

Brief Description

Pair of cream coloured Mukluks with canvas laces, woollen inners and insoles and rubber outer soles.

Materials

canvas, rubber plastic,wool

Dimensions

42(H) x 34(L) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

Markings on insole "SIZE 10 LANCASHIRE SOCK MFG CO. 1952 ↑ "
Label on inner " 9.80.0o ↑ 1952"
Instruction label - see opposite picture

Colour

cream

Object Production Place

England

Provenance

Mukluk is a Yupik eskimo word meaning a large, or bearded seal, the word having transferred to the boots since the original Mukluks were made from sealskin or sometimes caribou.
The modern fashion world has hijacked the idea and the word to encompass just about any thigh length, furry boots but modern , working mukluks still abound in Canada where the vast amount originate so we are very pleased to have a British Version here in the collection.
The only concrete evidence we have that the boots are British made are the insoles made by the Lancashire Sock manufacturing company in 1951. The insoles bear the classic War Department arrow - see photo opposite. D.R. Co 1952 on the inners are War Department procurement codes since for some reason the full name of the manufacturing company is rarely used. There is also a WD 120 stamp inside one of the boots for added confusion.
One way or another these Mukluks found their way into the stores of the British Anctartic Survey ( BAS ) and were issued to Jo(John) Porter who worked for them in the 1960’s. Jo took them to the Antarctic, brought them back, stored them in his loft for 50 years then passed them on to us. Cheers Jo!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Jo (John) Porter

Acquisition Date

09/11/2017

Condition Check Date

09/11/2017

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

09/11/2017

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