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Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Art of the American Indian: The Thaw Collection," The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, March 2, 2010 - May 30, 2010; Minneapolis Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN, October 24, 2010 - January 9, 2011; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX, April 24, 2011 - September 23, 2011; Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN, December 4, 2011 - February 12, 2012.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, October 13, 2018 - December 31, 2018.
ProvenanceDescended in a private collection, New England; Kathleen Whitaker, Los Angeles, California; Benson Lanford; Fisher Collection, New York City; Jackson Street Gallery, Seattle, Washington
BibliographyKing, J.H.C. "The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art." American Indian Art Magazine. Vol.21, No.3. (Summer 1996): 36-37.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, pp. 26-27 & 99.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions d'Art, 1999, p. 16, fig. 1.
Fognell, Eva, ed. Art of the Americans Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, NY: Fenimore Art Museum, 2010, p. 43.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 105.
Culture
Innu (Naskapi)
Coat
Date1785-1800
DimensionsOverall: 66 × 44 in. (167.6 × 111.8 cm)
Object numberT0630
Credit LineGift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Photograph by John Bigelow Taylor, NYC
Label TextThis caribou skin coat was sewn and painted by an Innu woman in the late 18th century following popular 17th-century coat patterns derived from European fashion. Hunting caribou was a critical part of Naskapi economy. A hunter could not rely solely upon his skills but also needed to acknowledge a reciprocal relationship with the animals' spirits which were both powerful and cognizant of man’s intent and desires. Painted garments were worn by the men while hunting in order to please the guardian spirits of the game and thus gain control over the animal. Some of the painted designs originated from the hunter's dreams. Despite its considerable age, the skin has maintained its suppleness, attesting to the high quality of Native tanning techniques.Exhibition History"Art Des Indiens D'Amerique Du Nord Dans La Collection D'Eugene Thaw," Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, Somogy Editions D'Art, January 21, 2000 - March 18, 2000.
"Art of the American Indian: The Thaw Collection," The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, March 2, 2010 - May 30, 2010; Minneapolis Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN, October 24, 2010 - January 9, 2011; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX, April 24, 2011 - September 23, 2011; Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN, December 4, 2011 - February 12, 2012.
"American Indian Art from the Fenimore Art Museum: The Thaw Collection," Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, October 13, 2018 - December 31, 2018.
ProvenanceDescended in a private collection, New England; Kathleen Whitaker, Los Angeles, California; Benson Lanford; Fisher Collection, New York City; Jackson Street Gallery, Seattle, Washington
BibliographyKing, J.H.C. "The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art." American Indian Art Magazine. Vol.21, No.3. (Summer 1996): 36-37.
Vincent, Gilbert et al. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2000, pp. 26-27 & 99.
Perriot, Francoise, and Slim Batteux, trans. Arts des Indiens d'Amerique du Nord: Dans la Collection d'Eugene et Clare Thaw. Paris: Somogy editions d'Art, 1999, p. 16, fig. 1.
Fognell, Eva, ed. Art of the Americans Indians: The Thaw Collection. Cooperstown, NY: Fenimore Art Museum, 2010, p. 43.
Fognell, Eva and Alexander Brier Marr, eds. Art of the North American Indians: The Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum, 2nd ed. Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2016, p. 105.
On View
On view
