Cleveland Museum of Art

Hide Shirt

Date

c. 1890

Medium

hide, pigment, glass beads, human hair

Culture

America, Native North American, Central Plains, Lakota Sioux, 19th century

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Traditionally, only Lakota (Sioux) head chiefs had the right to wear painted shirts, an honor they earned through sacrifice and bravery but lost by failing in their responsibilities. By the time this example was created, European Americans had confined the Lakota to reservations, and painted shirts had become the privilege of battle veterans rather than of active warriors. Family members probably donated the locks of hair, each representing a war exploit. Only Lakota (Sioux) chiefs had the right to wear painted shirts, an honor they earned through bravery.

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