Chilkat Robe

Item number 1281/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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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Chilkat blankets were originally made by northern Tlingit people, and traded down the coast to be worn on ceremonial occasions by Haida, Tsimshian and Central Coast chiefs.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