Boy's Hide Shirt
(Kiowa? Comanche?), c. 1890-1910
Native-tanned leather, glass beads, cotton thread, brass, mescal bean
On loan courtesy of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.49.302.62C

Look closely where the fringe comes to a V near the neck area.See the metal cross? Rather than meaning the boy was Christian, it most likely represented the four directions of the power of the universe.

See the two large tabs at the bottom of this shirt? These represent the hide of the deer's legs as would have been seen in a traditional hide shirt. On traditional hide shirts, all of the animal's hide was used, even the legs.The legs were usually left dangling like these tabs, or were used to tie the shirt together.Why do you think the maker added these tabs at the bottom of this shirt?

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