Objects Database

Seal skins for skis

Accession Number

762.2009.1

Object Name

Seal skins for skis

Created

22/01/2009

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

22/01/2009

Brief Description

Pair of animal skin ski skins. Canvas backed with canvas and leather straps and metal buckles.

Materials

animal skin, canvas, metal

Dimensions

190(l) x 6(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Colour

brown

Provenance

There is much debate about the first nation to have used skis though the Scandinavians seem to be favourites, with the seemingly obvious Inuit Folk of North America being ruled out for the simple fact that there are very few trees in the far north from which to manufacture skis.
Whoever it was, the early skiers soon realised that you needed grip when going uphill to avoid back slip and whilst it seems there was some experimantation with pine sap and resin in the early days, seal or animal skin seemed to do the job with the hair or fur having a 'lay' which gave a smooth glide one way and grip the other.
We are not 100% sure the skins we have here in the collection are made from seal skin - possibly another animal - reindeer(?) Computers don't do ' touchy feeely' but these skins have a a wonderful smooth lustre and are still in new, perfect condition some 80/100 years after being made.

Acquisition Method

passed on from Scottish Ski Club

Acquisition Date

01/12/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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