Spirit Dance Shirt Item Number: A9360 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Black trade felt (flannel-like) fitted shirt. Deep opening down the front closed with three buttons. Cuffs, hemline, shoulder blades and breast area heavily beaded with floral designs in blue, white, yellow, grey and green. Rows of unpainted carved miniature paddles sewn across each sleeve, lower front and back. The beaded panels and lower edge are bordered with a thin strip of light cloth and off white beads.
Cultural Context
dancing; spirit dancing; ceremonial
Specific Techniques
The miniature paddles appear to be sewn to black typewriter ribbon that is sewn to the jacket.
Narrative
The style of the embroidered shirt suggests it may have been made by a Tahltan person, then traded down the coast to a Salish community, where the paddles would have been added, by a Salish owner, for use in the Spirit Dance.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada before 1970
- Owned by Howard Roloff before April 1971
- Received from Howard Roloff (Exchanger) during April 1971
What
Who
- Culture
- Coast Salish
- Previous Owner
- Howard Roloff
- Received from
- Howard Roloff (Exchanger)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- before 1970
- Ownership Date
- before April 1971
- Acquisition Date
- during April 1971
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0178/0007