Seminole Patchwork Jacket
Jackets like these are the traditional attire of Miccosukee-speaking Seminole men for the New Year ceremony known as the Green Corn Dance. Eastern Woodlands Indians from the Northeast to the Southeast practiced this ceremony before European contact. In the Florida Everglades, the Green Corn Dance extends over several days and traditionally involved dancing, singing and a ritual ball game. It usually takes place in late May or June. Besides the sacred nature of this ceremony of renewal, it is a social time – to see and be seen in dazzling and colorful patchwork clothes that women have been making for their families all year long.

This jacket is made of purple cotton fabric banded with two rows of orange,green,yellow,light blue and dark blue patchwork. Overlapping triangles and repeating small diamond patterns are featured. Each of these diamonds is made of 12 small square and rectangular patches of colorful cotton cloth. The jacket measures approximately 25 in. long x 28 in. wide.

Sleeves are 24 in. long. Besides the strong design elements of the patchwork bands, visual excitement is heightened by the addition of multiple rows of commercial rickrack in a variety of colors. The extensive use of rickrack adds a wonderful contrast of texture. This is roughly a Medium Men's size

This jacket was created in the late 1970s for personal use, not for sale to tourists. Sold.



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deb@deborahgarnercollection.com