Chilkat Robe

Item number 2507/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Five-sided chilkat style robe with a curved, beige fringe of mixed wool and cedar bark along the bottom edge. Central area of geometric, ovoid and animal(?) face designs is bordered by a thin white line, then a wide yellow band, then a thin white line, then a wider dark brown (faded black) band - around all sides. Mixed wool and cedar bark warp. Front of blanket is faded; back of blanket shows original colours.

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Chilkat blankets were originally made by northern Tlingit people, and traded down the coast to be worn on ceremonial occasions by Haida, Tsimshian and Central Coast chiefs.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