cloak fragment, hide

cloak fragment, hide

cloak fragment, hide

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Introduction

A fragment of a men's summer cloak decorated with circle and triangle motifs in red and black. Northern Plains, possibly Sioux. Collected by G.C. Beltrami in Wisconsin in 1823. Beltrami's collection catalogue states that around 1856, Beltrami's nephew donated several objects to the Civic Library of Bergamo, which were later transferred to the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali, its current location.

Nation of Maker: Sioux
Nation of Origin

In the Beltrami Collection catalogue, its author, Vigorelli, states that this kind of item was typically worn as a cloak by Sioux men during the summer and made by women (p.14).

Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Based on the Beltrami Collection catalogue and museum documentation.

Materials

bison hide; dye, red and black; sinew; thread, commercial cotton

Techniques or Format

Two pieces of hide have been sewn together with thread to form a rectangle. The larger piece is painted with red and black dye.

Motifs and Patterns

Two circles, one inside the other, both made up of a row of outward facing black triangles and inward facing red triangles. There are geometric motifs along one side of the hide as well.

Dimensions: 105 × 73 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair. There are holes in the hide.
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: grasac_1514
Collection at Current Location: Collezione Beltrami
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1850s
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: The Civic Library of Bergamo
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1823
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected by G.C. Beltrami from Wisconsin in 1823. Beltrami's collection catalogue states that around 1856, Beltrami's nephew donated several objects to the Civic Library of Bergamo, which were later transferred to the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali.

Exhibition History

The Beltrami Collection was exhibited in Florence in 1929 during the "Prima Esposizione Nazionale di Storia delle Scienze" (First National Exposition of History of Sciences"). In 1973, during a celebration of the Beltrami exhibit, Glauco Luchetti donated three objects from his own collection, which were located in Beltrami's last house in Filottrano, to the "Museo Civico E. Caffi". In 1987 the collection was used in the exhibit entitled "Missisippi 1823. Oggetti indiani raccolti da G. Costantino Beltrami" in the Galleria Lorenzelli in Bergamo.

Publication History

Beltrami s catalogue. Vigorelli, Gli Oggetti indiani raccolti da G.Costantino Beltrami (p.42).

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

Leonardo Vigorelli, Gli Oggetti indiani raccolti da G.Costantino Beltrami, Civico Museo E. Caffi, Bergamo, 1987

GKS Reference Number: 25091
Record Creation Context

This record was created by Emanuela Rossi after a trip, funded by GRASAC, to the Museo Civico E. Caffi in Bergamo, Italy in October 2008.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Emanuela Rossi.

Approximate Place of Origin

44.736, -88.788

Source of Information about Places

In the Beltrami Collection catalogue, the author, Leonardo Vigorelli, defines "Upper Mississippi" as the Cultural Area of Origin. He defines "Northern Plains" as the Geographic Area.