Violets for Your Furs Trivia Quiz

Answer: sable

The sable is a species of marten found in forests from the Ural Mountains in Russia, eastwards through Siberia, Mongolia, and China, to the island of Hokkaido in Japan. Sable fur has always been highly prized in the fur trade both for its beautiful color (the darker, the better) and for its unique property of feeling smooth no matter which way you stroke it. Most furs feel rough when stroked against the grain, but sable feels smooth both ways. Because of its value, it is usually used more for trim than for whole garments.

A sable shawl would be a very valuable item!

Answer: chinchilla

Chinchilla fur is popular in the fur trade because it is very soft due to its density - there are usually over 50 hairs in each hair follicle. While only grey fur is seen in the wild, they have been bred in captivity to produce a variety of colors - white, beige, ebony and more. Because the color is typically very even, it is ideal for small garments, although larger garments can be made. Since the animals are fairly small, a full-length coat made from chinchilla could require the sacrifice of 150 animals.

By the end of the 19th century, they had been hunted nearly to extinction because of the popularity of their fur. Two species did survive, and hunting is now illegal, but illegal hunting continues to put pressure on their survival.

Answer: fur seal

The northern fur seal, found in the North Pacific, is one of nine species of fur seals, all members of the Otaridae family which includes sea lions. The family name means 'little ear', and describes one of the features that distinguishes them from true seals. Their dense underfur has long made them a valued target for the fur trade.

Answer: mink

There are two living species referred to as 'mink', the American mink and the European mink. The American mink has recently been reclassified to be in a different genus - it is now classed as Neovison vison, while the European mink is classed as Mustela lutreola.

The American mink is farmed for fur production, which has led to protests from animal rights groups. Some have been released from captivity by activists in Europe and South America, to survive in the wild and compete with native species.

In the wild, a mink's coat is brown, but farmed animals have been bred with colors ranging from white to black.

Answer: fox

A stole is a lady's garment worn over the shoulders, narrower than a shawl and simpler than a cape. A fur stole is usually made of the fur from a single animal for daily wear; more formal stoles are made from several animals. Traditionally the animal's head is included as part of the garment. Both foxes and minks are commonly used to make stoles.

Answer: beaver

Beavers are known for building dams to produce ponds in which they construct their homes, called lodges. Both European and North American beavers were hunted nearly to extinction for their fur and for castoreum, a bitter secretion found in the castor sacs and used in traditional medicine, but populations are being reestablished.

Answer: muskrat

The muskrat is not a rat; rather, it is a semi-aquatic rodent originating in North America which is now found in South America, Europe, and Asia. Two scent glands near its tail give off a strong musky odor which led to its name.

Muskrat fur is one of the furs commonly used to make a Russian ushanka, a fur hat with ear flaps that can be tied up to the crown of the cap, or tied at the chin to protect the ears and face from the cold.

Answer: bearskin hats

A bearskin is a tall fur hat, usually worn as part of a ceremonial military uniform by grenadiers and guard regiments in a number of armies. It should not be confused with the busby, a much smaller fur hat worn by the Royal Horse Artillery, or with the 'sealskin' caps (actually made of raccoon skin) worn by some ranks of the Royal Fusiliers.

The standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear. Officers have hats made from the thicker fur of the female Canadian brown bear, which is dyed black.

Answer: raccoon

Davy Crockett's coonskin hat became an icon when Fess Parker portrayed this US frontier legend on Disneyland in 1954 and 1955. The hat includes both a round head covering and a tail that hangs down the back, and can be draped over the shoulder. They are still available, with a variety of furs including raccoon, rabbit and red fox.

Answer: rabbit

Rabbit fur has traditionally been seen as a by-product of the production of rabbits for meat. Better quality fur, however, comes from animals bred specifically for that purpose. Angora rabbits are considered to produce the best pelts.

The Album "Rabbit Fur Coat" is an album by Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley, featuring The Watson Twins. It was released in the United States on January 24, 2006.