War Shirt — Art Hub

War Shirt

INV-1830

Artist unknown (Upper Missouri River Tribe) Missouri

1830–40

native north americanmissourimidwesternamericasshirthide (collagenous material)

Date

1830–40

Medium

Deer hide, ermine tails, glass pony beads, hair, porcupine quills, and trade cloth

Dimensions

Approx: 101.6 × 50.8 cm (40 × 20 in.)

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Location

Chicago, IL

Credit

Frederick W. Renshaw, Ada Turnbull Hertle, and Curator's Discretionary funds; purchased with funds provided by the Donnelley Foundation, Cynthia and Terry E. Perucca, and Mrs. Leonard S. Florsheim, Jr.; African and Amerindian Art Small Gifts Fund; Arnold Crane Endowment; African and Amerindian Art Purchase Fund; David Soltker and Irving Dobkin endowments

Equipped with powerful symbols and emblems, war shirts expressed the wearer's authority and status, and also served as his protective spiritual armor in battle.

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