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Shakhùkwiàn (Man’s Coat)

Lenni Lenape/Delaware artist, Native American

ca. 1840

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 746

The soft, velvet-like tanned deerskin and intricate floral applique of this shakhùkwiàn reveal Lenape women’s artistry and technical skills. The coat features six layers of cut fringe, a three-tiered cape at the neck and shoulders for warmth, and an evenly stitched waist—all details that make it an exceptional example of leatherwork. Jewel-toned glass beads with contrasting white and indigo outlines are classic Lenape elements. Elaborate bodily adornment with shells, beads, and metal signifies spiritual health and physical well-being.

Shakhùkwiàn (Man’s Coat), Hide, cloth, glass beads, cotton tread, Lenni Lenape/Delaware artist, Native American — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Shakhùkwiàn (Man’s Coat)

Date: ca. 1840

Geography: Made in Missouri or Kansas, United States

Culture: Lenni Lenape/Delaware artist, Native American

Medium: Hide, cloth, glass beads, cotton tread

Dimensions: H. 39 × W. 63 in. (99.1 × 160 cm)

Credit Line: On loan from the Charles and Valerie Diker Collection

Accession Number: L.2021.3.11

Rights and Reproduction: Image © Charles and Valerie Diker Collection/Photo: Dirk Bakker

The Met

The American Wing at The Met

The American Wing's ever-evolving collection comprises some 20,000 works by African American, Euro American, Native American, and Latin American artists, ranging from the colonial to early-modern period.