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Lot Essay
The perforated shirt style has been well documented to have been in use since at least the early 1800s. As a type, there have been many variations recorded and all seem to be individual with the exception of those used by the various Blackfoot warrior societies. One of the earliest documented shirts is shown in a painting of a Spokane chief by Paul Kane in 1847. It's a longer type shirt with the perforations forming diagonal lines across the wearer's body. A similar shirt was collected by George Dorsey on the Flathead Reservation in 1897. It appears that during historic times the length of the shirt changed from a long body to a waist length while the sleeves remained three-quarter length.
As mentioned earlier, these shirts are individualistic in nature and no doubt dream inspired. For a detailed example of this see Ewers, Oklahoma, 1958, pp.192-193. A description of the "Lord's Shirt," a famous South Peigan-Blackfoot personal shirt, is given in some detail. A Crow style shirt with quill wrapped strips and perforations is also in the Masco Collection. (See Batkin (ed.), Santa Fe, 1995.)
Historic photos show this type of shirt worn by the Assiniboine (Horn Weasel at Fort Belknap), by Blood-Blackfoot (Weasel Tail and Calf Robe) and by various Plateau peoples. Each of these shirts is individual, but there is one type that is very structured in form and design and often confused with the individual shirts. These are the shirts belonging to the Bear Men of the All-Brave-Dogs Society and the Braves Society of the Blackfoot Nation. There are two members in each of these societies who are called Bear Men and are allowed to wear perforated shirts as part of their badges of office. But the shape and perforations of these shirts, as well as the liberal use of the sacred paint, is very specific, and the shirts should not be confused with personal shirts.
The perforated shirt offered here is definitely of the personal nature and has an excellent blending of perforations, beadwork and paint. No doubt inspired by a dream, this shirt still evokes the power and beauty intended by its creator.
Paul Razcka March 14, 2000
As mentioned earlier, these shirts are individualistic in nature and no doubt dream inspired. For a detailed example of this see Ewers, Oklahoma, 1958, pp.192-193. A description of the "Lord's Shirt," a famous South Peigan-Blackfoot personal shirt, is given in some detail. A Crow style shirt with quill wrapped strips and perforations is also in the Masco Collection. (See Batkin (ed.), Santa Fe, 1995.)
Historic photos show this type of shirt worn by the Assiniboine (Horn Weasel at Fort Belknap), by Blood-Blackfoot (Weasel Tail and Calf Robe) and by various Plateau peoples. Each of these shirts is individual, but there is one type that is very structured in form and design and often confused with the individual shirts. These are the shirts belonging to the Bear Men of the All-Brave-Dogs Society and the Braves Society of the Blackfoot Nation. There are two members in each of these societies who are called Bear Men and are allowed to wear perforated shirts as part of their badges of office. But the shape and perforations of these shirts, as well as the liberal use of the sacred paint, is very specific, and the shirts should not be confused with personal shirts.
The perforated shirt offered here is definitely of the personal nature and has an excellent blending of perforations, beadwork and paint. No doubt inspired by a dream, this shirt still evokes the power and beauty intended by its creator.
Paul Razcka March 14, 2000