Southern Plains Painted Hide Men's Shirt

The piece exhibits a massive size comprised of Indian tanned hide that is sewn with hide lacing and trade thread and is covered in natural pigments yellow and red ocher and green natural pigment paints. The piece shows long frilly Indian hide fringes along the underside of the arms, inside edge of the shirt, along the bib and over the shoulders on both sides, all painted with green mineral pigment paints. The front shows a large “V” bib with green pigment painted fringe and red ocher / ochre painted center section. The shirt is in a classic Southern Plains men’s pattern with a natural painted surface and little other decorations, commonly seen amongst the Comanche, Kiowa, Apache and Southern Ute. The shirt is very well kept with some patina but likely found little use. Provenance: From a prominent Native American private collection in Billings, Montana. The hide is well kept with mostly supple hides and little paint loss. Measures overall 67-inches wide from end of cuffs by 42-inches t