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Details
A PLAINS CREE BEADED HIDE WAR SHIRT
of classic construction with open sides, painted with a series of black lines on one side, horsetracks on the other, overlaid across the shoulders and down the arms with panels of beadwork, each sinew sewn and lane-stitched in pink and black beads against a blue beaded ground, with a stepped zigzag pattern, beaded bands at the neck in similar colors, trimmed with red wool trade cloth and ermine fur streamers, inscribed with ink, 9377
Width: 50 in. (127 cm.) across the arms
of classic construction with open sides, painted with a series of black lines on one side, horsetracks on the other, overlaid across the shoulders and down the arms with panels of beadwork, each sinew sewn and lane-stitched in pink and black beads against a blue beaded ground, with a stepped zigzag pattern, beaded bands at the neck in similar colors, trimmed with red wool trade cloth and ermine fur streamers, inscribed with ink, 9377
Width: 50 in. (127 cm.) across the arms
Literature
Illustrated in Waldlandindianer und Bisonjager Nordamerikas, page 6 and in Die Prarieindianer Nordamerikas 1840 - 1890, plate 6. Illustrated in American Indian Art Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 1, Winter 1996.
Exhibited
Amerika Haus Berlin, Mar. 1 - 31, 1971; Jan. 26 - Mar. 3, 1976
Further details
Exceptional is the historic object that is accompanied by specific documentation or historic reference. This war shirt is such an object, as there exists in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Museum an 1890 photograph of Plains Cree Chief, Thunderchild (Peeyasiu Awasis 1849 - 1927), wearing it.
War shirts were permitted only to men who had gained stature through their exploits in combat, and who had demonstrated sagacity and superior leadership capability. This shirt is emblematic of Thunderchild's prowess, as the narrow black lines painted on the left side are generally understood to be a convention denoting feats accomplished in battle. Likewise, the painted horse tracks connote that he had served as a war party leader, and/or had captured horses from the enemy. The ermine fur streamers along the sleeves recognized the ferocity of the diminuative, but pugnacious weasel family member. The reduplicated, small blocks of alternating colors, here comprising the complex zigzag pattern in the beaded strips, typify Plains Cree beadwork.
Benson L. Lanford
May 3, 2004
War shirts were permitted only to men who had gained stature through their exploits in combat, and who had demonstrated sagacity and superior leadership capability. This shirt is emblematic of Thunderchild's prowess, as the narrow black lines painted on the left side are generally understood to be a convention denoting feats accomplished in battle. Likewise, the painted horse tracks connote that he had served as a war party leader, and/or had captured horses from the enemy. The ermine fur streamers along the sleeves recognized the ferocity of the diminuative, but pugnacious weasel family member. The reduplicated, small blocks of alternating colors, here comprising the complex zigzag pattern in the beaded strips, typify Plains Cree beadwork.
Benson L. Lanford
May 3, 2004