Description (Labels & Markings)
The original retail tag, with plastic loop, is attached.
Event Date
Author: Lizzy Peneycad

Context (Field collection)
‘The artefact was collected by Sharon Webb following Ph.D. fieldwork done in the area in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002. Interviews were made with the makers of the artefacts, these are lodged in the Museum’s paper archive with tapes of the interviews and a copy of the report on the collecting project. The interviews consist of detailed conversations as to how the artefacts were made and what they mean to the Sámi today. All Sámi handicrafts are called duodji (this translates as ‘anything a Sámi person makes with their hands’). Matleena Fofanoff is a well known and versatile craftsperson, many of her works have been purchaced for Sámi Museums, including Siida, in Inari, in the Finnish Sámi area. She uses traditional methods and processes most of the materials herself. In the case of these mittens, the wool has been carded, spun (with a dytaff/ drop-spindle) and hand kitted by her. Some mittens are also coloured using natural dyes (these are made from fungus and lichens) - these dyes produce varying shades of brown. These particular mittens have been dyed with chemical colours, and are ‘traditional’ Sámi colours (blue, red and yellow). See paper archive for this collection for more details on natural and chemical dyes and the origin of ‘traditional’ colours. The wool for most of the mittens is un-dyed, and is the off white colour of some natural sheep wool. These kind of mittens are traditional Skolt Sámi handwear, the pattern also is traditional Skolt Sámi. See paper archive for this collection for more details on Skolt Sámi. The mittens are women’s mittens, the use of the colour yellow is traditionally used on women’s mittens, for men no yellow is used, only red and blue, or red and green. Attached to the mittens is a label which reads “Sámi Duodji” on the outside, and inside reads “Your guarantee for genuine Sámi handicraft and design”. This is repeated in Finnish and German. The label also bears the makers name, handicraft workers serial number and the price of the object. The Duodji label means that the maker of objects bearing it are members of the Sámi Handicraft association, which guarantees style, quality and that the member is Sámi. This label is used in all Sámi areas (ie in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia) although it is more common in Finland. The mittens were due to be sold at the Duodji Shop in Inari village, thus had already had its label attached. More details on the Duodji label can be found in the paper archive relating to this collection. Notes made during fieldwork.' S. Webb - 11/3/2003. 
Event Date 8/5/2003
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Mittens made from hand carded, handspun and knitted wool. The main body of the mittens is off-white (un-dyed wool), around the wrist area is a blue, red and yellow pattern. This consists of bands of coloured wool and diamond shapes.
Event Date 8/5/2003
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Sää’mvaacc in Skolt Sami. Pair of large mittens, made by Matleena Fofanoff, from hand carded, hand-spun, and knitted wool. The main body of the mittens is made of cream, non-dyed wool. Around the wrist area is a blue and red pattern of lozenges, bordered by blue, red and yellow stripes. The mittens are tied together at the top with red, blue, yellow, and cream plaited wool. Original tag is attached.
Event Date 8/3/2023
Author: Lizzy Peneycad