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Shakhùkwiàn (Man’s Coat)

ca. 1840
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 746
The soft, velvet-like tanned deerskin and intricate floral applique of this rare shakhùkwiàn (man’s coat) 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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title:
    Shakhùkwiàn (Man’s Coat)
  • Artist:
    Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Artist
  • Date:
    ca. 1840
  • Geography:
    Made in Missouri or Kansas, United States
  • Culture:
    Lenni Lenape/Delaware artist, Native American
  • Medium:
    Hide, cloth, glass beads, cotton thread, sinew
  • Dimensions:
    39 × 63 in. (99.1 × 160 cm)
  • Credit Line:
    The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of Native American Art, Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 2025
  • Object Number:
    2025.860.1
  • Rights and Reproduction:
    Image © Charles and Valerie Diker Collection/Photo: Dirk Bakker
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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