Tunic

Description

Tunic, of tanned caribou skin, decorated with trade beads, dentalium shells and quilled fringe, part of a Gwich'in man's summer outfit: North America, Canada, Northwest Territories, Gwich'in, c. 1862

Museum reference

A.848.12

Collection

Americas

Object name

Tunic

Production information

Unknown
Northwest Territories, Canada, North America

Date

c. 1862

Style / Culture

Gwich'in
Athapaskan

Materials

Caribou skin, Glass, Dentalium shell, Thong, Porcupine quill, Ochre, Sinew

Physical description

Shirt made of tanned caribou skin with drawstring neck and pointed lower edge, decorated with bands of black glass beads alternating with dentalium shells, thong fringes strung with black, white and red beads, thong fringes wrapped with red, white and blue porcupine quills, and lines of red ochre, sewn with sinew.

Collection place(s)

Northwest Territories, Canada, North America

Associations

Hudson's Bay Company

Exhibitions

• Living Lands (29 Jul 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

References

The Athabaskans: Strangers of the North. Ottawa: National Museum of Man, 1974. Exhibition catalogue from 'An international travelling exhibition from the collection of the National Museum of Man, Canada, and the Royal Scottish Museum. Cat no. 177, p.130, colour plate 34.

Idiens, Dale, A catalogue of Northern Athapaskan Indian artefacts in the collection of the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, Art and Archaeology 3, March 1979.

Dè T’a Hoti Ts’eeda: ‘We Live Securely by the Land’; An Exhibition of Dene material selected from the collections from National Museums Scotland. Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada 2006 pp 22-25.

Listed on Yukon government 'Searching for Our Heritage' project website listing Yukon First Nations artefacts around the world: http://www.tc.gov.yk.ca/museum_resources.html

On display

national museum of scotland »
level 1 »
world cultures, living lands