Man's Coat

ca. 1840
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
Two artistic traditions inspired the quillwork designs on this coat. The artist, a Sioux-Métis woman of mixed European and Native American descent, used both European floral embroidery and Native geometric patterns to create the motifs. In the 1840s, prominent visitors to the region and fur traders on leave wore outerwear such as this on the streets of Saint Louis. Aside from closing with a sash or belt, the tailoring of the garment follows a European pattern.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Man's Coat
  • Date: ca. 1840
  • Geography: United States, North or South Dakota
  • Culture: Sioux-Métis
  • Medium: Native-tanned leather, porcupine quills, metal hook-and-eyes
  • Dimensions: Length: 42 1/8 in. (107 cm)
    Width: 30 3/4 in. (78.1 cm)
  • Classification: Hide-Costumes
  • Credit Line: Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Quebec (CMH V-E-294a)
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing