Coat, Skin, Painted

National Museum of Natural History

E386521-0

From card: "In two pieces (once one specimen); one being upper portion with sleeves; other lower portion; the two pieces fit together perfectly, to make a coat of generalized Naskapi style made of seven pieces of skin sewn together (1 each arm; 1 center back; 1 left side; 1 rt. side; (2 small pieces inset to back). Predominantly decoration is simple painted design in bands of red and size marking. All the latter is linear; red mainly straight lines, some wavy and some solid triangles, at top; also red dots in neck border. Red flannel or strouding edging top of shoulder seams, and arm-body seams. There is no collar, and neck form like that of a poncho Plains Indian shirt. [Culture listed as Algonkian on catalogue card.] Catlin did not visit the Naskapi, if this was collected by him in the field it was obtained most likely in the Great Lakes area. Possibly Ojibwa or Cree - John C. Ewers, Jan. 15, 1948." Identified by Morgan Baillargeon, Canadian Museum of Civilization, 2009, as possibly Montagnais?


  • Type of Item coat
  • Culture Algonquin, Chippewa, Cree, Innu, Montagnais

  • Field Collector George Catlin
  • Received from Thomas Donaldson

  • Made in USA, Canada
  • Collected in USA, Canada

  • Acquisition Date on October 21, 1881

  • Accession Number 010638