3843
Antique Early Northwest Haida American Sea Hawk Button Blanket
Circa 1850
Size 82" x 64"
Size 208 x 162cm
Below are Detail Images
A button blanket is wool blanket embellished with mother-of-pearl buttons, created by Northwest Coastal tribes that is worn for ceremonial purposes
Ceremonial robes and their associated regalia have been among the most spectacular creations of the Indian people of the Northwest Coast of North America. For generations, these robes have served as insignia of family and clan histories, duties, rights, and privileges, and they are beginning to mark as well a determined presence in contemporary Canadian society. These robes are powerful statements of identity and, donning them, people become in a real sense what they wear.
Rather than sleeping equipment the blankets are used as capes and gifts at ceremonial dances and potlatches
The blankets were originally acquired from the Hudson's Bay Company traders during the mid-19th century. The trade blankets were typically dark blue made from abaloneshells.The central crest typically portrayed a symbol of the wearer's family heritage.
The blankets usually have a red border on the upper and lateral edges. A central crest figure is created from the buttons and red flannel appliqu & eacute;. Button blankets are worn over the shoulders and the crest design hangs on the back of the wearer.
Among the people who make button blankets, the blankets are not hung from walls except at funerals or near the graves of chiefs.
Mother of Pearl
Nacre also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. Nacre is found in some of the most ancient lineages of bivalves gastropods, and cephalopods. However, the inner layer in the great majority of mollusc shells is porcellaneous not nacreous, and this usually results in a non-iridescent shine,or more rarely in non-nacreous iridescence such as flame structure as is found in conch pearls.
The outer layer of pearls and the inside layer of pearl oysterand freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre. Other mollusc families that have a nacreous inner shell layer include marine gastropods such as the Haliotidae,the and the Turbinidae.
Last Image is Mother of Pearl
