Chilkat Robe Item Number: 1281/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Chilkat style robe with woven designs and fringe. The design is a three panel distributive with an ancestor face in the centre surrounded by a bird motif. The design is in yellow, blue and black on natural ground. There is a long twisted fringe on three sides.
History Of Use
Chilkat blankets were originally made by northern Tlingit people, and traded down the coast to be worn on ceremonial occasions by Haida, Tsimshian and Central Coast chiefs. Chilkat robes were symbols of wealth: to own them endowed a chief with great prestige. Even greater prestige resulted from giving them away in potlatch. If there was no chief attending of high enough rank to receive it, the blanket might be cut into strips and distributed to a number of persons of prestige. These strips would be made into other ceremonial garments, such as shirts, aprons, leggings, headdresses, or bags. A chief would be dressed in his ceremonial regalia when he died and was laid in state.
Narrative
Blanket came from an Andy Warhol Estate auction.
Item History
- Made in Alaska, USA ?
- Owned by Andy Warhol
- Owned by Sotheby's before July 18, 1988
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Sotheby's (Seller) on July 18, 1988
What
- Name
- Chilkat Robe
- Identification Number
- 1281/1
- Type of Item
- robe
- Material
- wool fibre, cedar bark and dye
- Overall
- height 92.6 cm, width 167.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Tlingit
- Previous Owner
- Andy Warhol and Sotheby's
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Sotheby's (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Alaska, USA ?
When
- Ownership Date
- before July 18, 1988
- Acquisition Date
- on July 18, 1988
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1281/0001