This is an excellent Ghost Dance polychrome painted muslin dance shirt from circa 1890. The shirt is constructed of muslin trade fabric with a hand-cut fringe border and both the front and back are decorated with mineral pigment dye paints in red, green / blue and black. The front and back shows a matching pattern of five five-point stars, the largest centrally located in a red surrounded by four at each corner in a blue / green all of which have the typical black outline. The collar shows a red stroud trade clothe piped edge and straight collar which is accented on either side with Indian tanned hide fringe holding turkey feathers that are completely dyed in yellow ocher and wrapped in hide and sinew which is dyed in green and red ocher. The bottom edge of the shirt shows a stained like yellow to dark grey / brown coloring extending into the fringe. It is said that Ghost Dance shirts were required to be made from Muslin material but some other examples that have been authenticated do exist. Authentic Ghost Dance polychrome painted shirts are immensely rare with many examples being attributed to the Sioux Native American Indians, likely the origins of this piece as well. Some of the notable shirts of the same age and Ghost Dance origin as this piece include the example sold at Cowan’s April 2018 sale for $22,000, The shirt from Allard’s March 2003 sale for $7,500, Ghost Dance Shirt sold by our company NAAC in our September 2020 sale for $5,250 and this example. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Fred Cushman an avid collector and doctor from Twin Falls, Idaho. Measures overall 58”W by 42”L.

For a complete representation of condition please review pictures. Some items may have additional images, if so please visit our website directly. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition. Shipping info is clearly stated on LA and our website diretly, please do not use LA messanger for shipping quotes.