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Pitt Rivers Museum

1893.67.6

Fringed semi-tanned hide shirt with triangular neck lappets on back and chest, quilled shoulder and beaded arm bands [HR 06/11/2009]


1893.67.6

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Collection type
Object
Description
Fringed semi-tanned hide shirt with triangular neck lappets on back and chest, quilled shoulder and beaded arm bands [HR 06/11/2009]
Long description
Fringed deerskin shirt with quill or hair wrappings. Formerly described as a coat, with triangular neck lappets on back and chest: quilled shoulder-bands and beaded arm-bands. Possibly made from deerskin. Quillwork bands of white, yellow, red and blue over each shoulder, each with a single line of beads around the edge. A thick band of decorative beadwork runs down each arm, consisting of alternative red/white and white/blue stripes. There are long fringes on the arms and shoulders. There are two triangular fringed lappets (flaps) at the front and back of the neck, each bordered with alternate blue and white lengths of beading. The shirt is unpainted, although there are traces of red body paint (?) on the inside. [HR 06/11/2009]
Date / Period
Date made: 1800-1850
Date collected
1842
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Sinew, Material Bead, Material Horse Hair Animal, Material Porcupine Quill Animal, Material Deer Skin Animal, Material Sheep Skin Animal, Process Quillwork, Process Beadwork
Dimensions
Width: max 1740 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1893.67.6 Other PRM accession number: 1884.88.i
Research and responses

Identified as Plains 1991 2. Although listed in PR V 16, this may be the same specimen as the sixth `Blackfoot or Piegan deer skin shirt' purchased from E.M. Hopkins in 1893. Hopkins accompanied Sir George Simpson on his voyage round the world in 1842. [LM]

Additional Information supplied by Benson Landford 6/2000 - This shirt is made from mountain sheep hide rather than deer skin. The tail stub is still visible at the base of the shirt. The quillwork is of porcupine quill and possibly also some Epipyllum. The hide tassels are bound with porcupine quill and horse hair. The beaded strips are very unusual. MdeA 5/7/2000

Search terms: Clothing, Shirt