Vintage Snowshoe Holiday Wreath - Eastern Sage
c. 1870-1920, 19th-20th century (Snowshoes), Wreath - New
Wood, Babiche, Metal, Foliage
36"h x 31"w x 9"d
© Vintage Winter

A new item for 2010, the Snowshoe Wreath is sure to be thee most unique holiday decor item for your home.  Each wreath is hand made in our Vintage Winter Oregon workshop.  Wrapped with natural Willow branches, Sage, Status, Gaillardia seed heads and Flax all hand picked locally from Central Oregon fields.  Each wreath differs slightly in foliage variation, but is presented on a backdrop of antique indian snowshoes.

It is thought that the use of decorative pom poms originated for both spiritual and hunting tactics. The hunter would carefully dress the snowshoes with pom poms made from fur of the primarily hunted species. So if they mainly hunted caribou, the pom poms were typically made from caribou fur. Simple logic in hopes to deter the human smell if the hunter became up wind. On the spiritual side, some aboriginal hunters believed they needed to please the animal spirits to have a successful hunt. To do this they would decorate their snowshoes with pom poms, paint and geometric designs woven directly into the hide lacing.

Tribal tradition also played a role in the color of pom poms with different colors referring to differing tribes or regions. For instance Cree Indian snowshoes are primarily red in color.