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Bearskin Access

: Organizations like PETA have campaigned to replace the real fur with synthetic alternatives. While the Ministry of Defence has tested faux fur, they currently maintain that no synthetic version matches the original's durability and water resistance. 📜 "Bearskin": The Grimm Fairy Tale

: Modern British bearskins are roughly 18 inches tall and weigh 1.5 pounds . They are made from the pelts of Canadian black bears , though officers' versions often use female brown bear fur (dyed black) for its superior thickness. bearskin

: In 1815, British Foot Guards defeated Napoleon’s Imperial Guard at the Battle of Waterloo. As a mark of their victory, the British regiments adopted the bearskin caps worn by the defeated French units. : Organizations like PETA have campaigned to replace

The most iconic use of "bearskin" refers to the tall, fur caps worn by ceremonial units, most notably the . They are made from the pelts of Canadian

" Bearskin " ( Der Bärenhäuter ) is a classic German folk story recorded by the (KHM 101).

: Originally worn by 17th-century grenadiers , these hats were designed to make soldiers look taller and more intimidating. They also served a practical purpose in early combat, as the thick fur could help deflect saber cuts from cavalry.

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Land Acknowledgement

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' people, past and present, to these lands and waters.

This land acknowledgment has been reviewed and approved by the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' leadership. Learn more

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