What kind of fur is this? Antique child's capelet?

If it's really soft it might even be seal. I hope not.

 

That could be lamb like you said. I'm not sure.

 

How long is the fur?

 

I wonder if it could be sheared, dyed beaver or muskrat? I'm probably way off base, but I have seen this before.....just wish I had a memory of what it was. Anyway, this page has some good info, if you haven't already seen it.
http://www.furcommission.com/farming/mink-biology/furtypes/

 

Looks like sealskin. Why that should be more bothersome than any other animal is lost on me. Sealskin, because it's so soft, would be appropriate for a child's capelet.

 

More than likely made before any "ban" or "problem" with seal skin/fur.

 

I thought sealskin right away

 

Their excuse back then was they didn't have Gore-Tec or Polar Fleece.

 

AFAIK, seals are not an endangered species and Inuit have been using seal skin/fur for hundreds of years. It is also a source of food and oil.

 

Exactly, Wendy.

 

I had that fur before along with mink,but never knew what the former fur was.I really didn't care cause when the donations of fur came in, we cut into small blankets for kittens and puppies for a rescue. The fur blankies kept the orphans warm and toasty.I even used the fur for baby birds

 

As 6Rivets said, that capelet is sealskin. During that era, such things came in ermine as well -- especially when trimmed with the tails. The ermine continued to decorate little girls up thru the forties, but sealskin not so much. It had a connotation of sadness. Once everyone stopped wearing mourning forever and ever, sealskin was not seen so often.

The "problem" with seal fur had to do with the Method of killing the cubs. Although it sounds absolutely horrible, it is no more horrible than the killing of many other kinds of animals. If an inuit wants to live in an igloo, I have no objection to his choice, but I do not want to watch HOW he makes himself warm and fed. I knew about, but never watched my grandmother retrieve a chicken from the pen and then execute it. (And then have to catch it, because it was too stupid to know it was dead! UGH!)

 

But you ate Grandma's chicken?

 

Darn right. I may be lily-livered, but I'm also pragmatic. Were I a starving street person in India, I'd kill a cow, thank you very much. LOL! Although I would have to take into consideration possible religious retribution from believers among my fellow homeless persons. Have also eaten rabbit, venison (different killer), snapper (turtle), squab, and pheasant (DK) prepared by the same excellent chef. But then she got me at the very beginning with - scrapple!

 

Here ya go, silverthwait . . .
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/

 

One of my cats loves rabbit, as long as she caught it. But it's gotta be, shall we say, rather rare. Venison and wild boar are yummy. Can't say I've ever eaten turtle or wild pigeon, but quail are good too. What gets me about seal fur is that they usually go after the babies.