Chilkat Blanket
Arts of the Americas
CULTURE
Tlingit, Chilkat
MEDIUM
Goat wool, commercial wool, cedar bark
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
- Possible place made: Canada
- Possible place made: United States
DATES
late 19th–early 20th century
DIMENSIONS
53 x 68 1/2 in. (134.6 x 174 cm)
mount: 2 × 67 1/4 × 1/2 in. (5.1 × 170.8 × 1.3 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
1989.51.63
CREDIT LINE
The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Northwest coast Chilkat blanket, two piled yarn of wool fiber and cedar bark. Trapezoid-like shape, side edges of beige weft-faced woven, 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 spirit of the animal. The whale is flanked by young raven designs.
Weaving is thought to be problematic and the artist took many innovative liberties. Might not have had enough brown wool so did some basket twining techniques along the top and outlining areas such as the eyes. In one area near trout eyes at the bottom weaver had to change brown to another shade and then finally 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.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Tlingit, Chilkat. Chilkat Blanket, late 19th–early 20th century. Goat wool, commercial wool, cedar bark, 53 x 68 1/2 in. (134.6 x 174 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.63. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.63_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 1989.51.63_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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