Western style coat with outward flaring skirt at bottom; small rectangular flap at back of neck; black, red, tan and light grey geometric painted symmetrical designs; cuffs on sleeves; light-colored hide; no closures

Hunting Coat, c. 1750

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

This coat was made to communicate with animals and the divine. In the 1700s, in the far reaches of northern Labrador (now in Canada), Innu (Naskapi) men dressed up in elegant, tailored coats—not to court beautiful women but to attract caribou. Made of creamy white caribou hide and elaborately decorated, the coats pleased Papakassik, an Innu holy being, and mesmerized the animals. Drawn to the coat made especially for it, the caribou would give its life to the hunter.

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Explore
Details
Title
Hunting Coat
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2012.27
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

Western style coat with outward flaring skirt at bottom; small rectangular flap at back of neck; black, red, tan and light grey geometric painted symmetrical designs; cuffs on sleeves; light-colored hide; no closures