372
Feather pelerine
Possibly eastern Great Lakes region
about 1830-60
Cotton plain weave with applied feathers and down
Pelerines (small capes with wide shoulders), became fashionable as a way of covering the large, billowing sleeves of mid-nineteenth century dresses. We don't know exactly where feather pelerines like this came from, but it is very possible they were made by Native Americans in the Great Lakes region. The feathers, many of which are not from eastern North America, were readily available through trade, and while embroidering cloth with feathers is not a traditional Indian art, Native Americans adopted many new techniques during the nineteenth century.
372
Feather pelerine
Possibly eastern Great Lakes region
about 1830-60
Cotton plain weave with applied feathers and down
Pelerines (small capes with wide shoulders), became fashionable as a way of covering the large, billowing sleeves of mid-nineteenth century dresses. We don't know exactly where feather pelerines like this came from, but it is very possible they were made by Native Americans in the Great Lakes region. The feathers, many of which are not from eastern North America, were readily available through trade, and while embroidering cloth with feathers is not a traditional Indian art, Native Americans adopted many new techniques during the nineteenth century.