Collections: Arts of the Americas: Pair of Leggings for Chief's War Dress

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Pair of Leggings for Chief's War Dress

Cultures: Sioux, Native American; Probably Yanktonai Sioux, Native American
Medium: Hide, porcupine quills, scalp locks, pony beads, maiden hair fern, horsehair, dye
Place Made: Fort Snelling, Minnesota, United States
Dates: 1801-1833, early 19th century
Dimensions: B: 29 x 42 3/4 in. (73.7 x 108.6 cm) C: 27 1/4 x 45 in. (69.2 x 114.3 cm) (show scale)
Collections:Arts of the Americas
Museum Location: This item is not on view
Accession Number: 50.67.1b-c
Credit Line: Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund
Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY
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Caption: Sioux, Native American. Pair of Leggings for Chief's War Dress, 1801-1833, early 19th century. Hide, porcupine quills, scalp locks, pony beads, maiden hair fern, horsehair, dye, B: 29 x 42 3/4 in. (73.7 x 108.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.1b-c. Creative Commons-BY
Image: overall, 50.67.1b-c_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don't yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

Catalogue Description: This pair of leggings was acquired as a set with shirt 50.67.1a. Like most men's leggings they extend from the top of the foot to the top of the hip and were meant to be fastened at the waist with a belt. The leggings are long enough that a large portion of skin hung over the wearer's belt and fit the leg tightly. The bottom tabs are actually the forelegs of the animal and they might be left to drag behind or rolled up and tied around the ankle. The proper left legging is colored red, while on the right it is a dark brown and this creates a mirror image of the colors on the matching shirt. Both leggings are painted with brown vertical stripes. The pinkish cast over both leggings and shirt has been reported to be earth paint; the brown identified as possibly limonite found in shallow pond bottoms or at the edges of bogs. The stripes seem to be applied with a stiff instrument, perhaps a bone brush. A large black and white (eagle?) feather is attached to one legging. Scalp locks are fastened in a series, as a fringe on the outside of the legs. See Jarvis report in Arts of Americas files.
Record Completeness: Good (73%)
Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

hide [x]		leggings [x]
american indian [x]		sioux [x]
native american [x]		leather [x]

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amandabee (6)
- american indian
- native american
- leather
- hide
- leggings
- sioux

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