AN IMPORTANT AND RARE BLACKFEET BEADED HIDE MAN'S SHIRT

Details

AN IMPORTANT AND RARE BLACKFEET BEADED HIDE MAN'S SHIRT
Constructed of deerskin, buffalo hide, glass beads and white winter ermine tails, with open sides and applied beaded panels over the shoulders and along the sleeves, panels decorated with diamond motifs, flanked by triangular motifs enclosed by linear bar elements accented with four triangular designs in green, pink, yellow and blue beads against a white ground, the panels trimmed with solid band borders composed of translucent red with white heart beads, a medallion applied to chest and back with circular motif at center enclosed by three sets of three elongated triangles linked by bar motifs and banded border in three shades of blue, white, yellow, and translucent red with white heart beads, painted overall with a yellow ochre, accented with banded designs on the sleeves and rows "polliwog"-shaped designs on the chest and back in green ochre, sleeves trimmed with a row of white winter ermine fringe and blue trade beads at top, neck trimmed with red wool trade cloth, edges fringed
34in. (86.3cm.) high; 20in. (50.8cm.) wide

Provenance

Joel and Kate Kopp, NY

Belonged to Rides at the Door, MT

Literature

Penney, 1994, p. 90.

Lot Essay

"Strips of white ermine skin hang as fringe from the shoulder and arm strips of this shirt. The ermine, or weasel, is one of the most ferocious and tenacious of predators, making it an appropriate symbol for the cultural values of the Blackfeet warrior. The 'polliwog'-shaped designs painted on the shirt are spent bullets to which a courageous and powerful warrior remains impervious and unmindful while facing the enemy (Penney, 1994, p. 90)."

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