Button Blanket Item Number: 3089/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Felted wool button blanket with large central design. Edges are red, scalloped on the inside border, with a narrow strip of white, also scalloped, and a black interior panel. On this panel sits the emblem of an eagle, wings spread, head to the side, atop a whale in profile, tail up. Over 2200 buttons in shell and abalone outline the crest and borders of the blanket. A half circle is cut out of the top edge to fit around the wearer’s neck. A strip of black felt sits to the side, to be fastened around the neck.

Narrative

Glenn Tallio created the eagle and whale design for the blanket, with the assistance of his grandmother, Gertrude Schooner. Glenn and Constance Tallio made the blanket (their first) for their daughter Maureen's high school graduation. The shell and abalone buttons were purchased from Papas Furs in Vancouver in 1980. Maureen wore the blanket, apron and head piece for her graduation in June 1980, being the first girl in the province to graduate wearing her traditional regalia. She received a standing ovation from the audience in attendace at Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver.

Item History

What

Name
Button Blanket
Identification Number
3089/1
Type of Item
blanket
Material
wool fibre, shell, abalone shell, fibre and plastic
Overall
height 119.0 cm, width 130.0 cm, depth 0.7 cm

Who

Culture
Nuxalk and Heiltsuk
Creator
Glenn Tallio (Maker) and Constance Tallio (Maker)
Previous Owner
Constance Tallio, Glenn Tallio and Maureen Tallio
Received from
Glenn Tallio (Donor) and Constance Tallio (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1980
Ownership Date
before November 26, 2014 and between 1980 and 1982
Acquisition Date
on November 26, 2014

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
good
Accession Number
3089/0001