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Pueblo Indian Polychrome Painted Shirt c.1890-1910

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Pueblo Indian Polychrome Painted Shirt c.1890-1910
The lot features a trade fabric polychrome painted men’s shirt from the Pueblo Native American Indian tribes of the Southwest dating to circa 1890-1910’s. The piece shows a trade canvas or muslin fabric with dark coloring being completely covered on both sides with natural pigment paint showing a yellow background with edging and borders in black depicting a large owl bird effigy symbol across the entire chest of the shirt showing the chest to the head and across each arm with the same owl but showing is entire body all in colors of greys, browns, whites, reds, pinks, yellow with black outlining. The same large owl bust across the entire back and two full body owls on the elbow arms is shown on the back of the shirt. The front shows a shirt or jacket like “v” collar with brass ball buttons and across the waist or stomach with four brass hawk trade bells tied with cotton trade thread. The bottom of the shirt shows a hand cut fringe, cut from the original clothe of the shirt. The shirt itself shows loss to the paint and wear indicative of honest age and use and the shirt displays very well. One of the most unique hand painted polychrome southwest canvas or muslin shirts ever brought to the open market, truly a unique example that lends to being more of a work of art. Provenance: Purchased from Sioux Falls Native American and Western collector show in 1995 by the current owner from a South Dakota Collector. From a private Billings Montana American Indian collection. Likely Hopi in origin. Measures overall 56”W by 29”L.