This belt is part of the Zuni outfit worn by Frank Hamilton Cushing. This belt was part of an original package of clothing given to Cushing from the Zuni Governor's wife. Although Cushing wore the costume daily almost as a metaphor for how close he was to the Zuni people he actually was noticeable as at that time most Zuni's had adopted wearing white cotton or calico shirts and dark pants and only wore these shirts and sashes on special occasions. See 30.799.

This is a finger woven sash in bright colors of green, red, blue, white and gold making a zig zag esign. The ends are long fringes; the edges are trimmed with beads.

Northwest coast Chilkat blanket, two piled yarn of wool fiber and cedar bark. Trapezoid-like shape, side edges of beige weft-faced voven, possibly weft-twined. Upper and lower edges also beige in weft-faced plain weave. Broad bands of medium brown and yellow weft-faced plain weave enclose central dark brown field. Various geometric, stylized face and eye motifs in interlocking and slit tapestry techniques in beige, light yellow, olive green and dark brown on this dark brown field. Long fringes extend from lower edge, where wool yarn covering has worn away to show cedar bark interior in places. The design is the "Diving Whale" design with the head of whale located at bottom near the fringe, tail flukes near the top, side flukes near the head, all with eyes inside. The center body is indicated with a face representing the spitit of the animal. The whale is flaked by young raven designs. Weaving is thought to be problematical and the artist took many innovative liberties. Might not have had enough brown wool so did some basket twining technigues along the top and outlining areas such as the eyes. In one area near trout eyes at the botom weaver had to change brown to another shade and then finaly to green as not enough wool. Very loosely woven over all. Either has two different artist's signatures or again the artist didn't have enough dark brown to even complete the signature.

This is a good example of the striped shirts worn. The sides could have been tied together. Although called a child's poncho it could very well have been made for a small man.

PRIMITIVE ART. BOAS, FRANZ, 1951, Publisher: CAPITAL PUBLISHING COMPANY THE CHILKAT BLANKET. EMMONS, GEORGE T. MEMOIRS, 3, 1907 THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE INDIANS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC COAST. BOAS, FRANZ BULLETIN, 9, 1897

OBJECTS OF EXCHANGE: SOCIAL AND MATERIAL TRANSFORMATION ON THE LATE NINETEENTH-CENTURY NORTHWEST COAST. GLASS, AARON EXHIBITION CATALOG, 2011, Publisher: BARD GRADUATE CENTER THE CHILKAT DANCING BLANKET. SAMUEL, CHERYL, 1982, Publisher: PACIFIC SEARCH PRESS. SEATTLE.