How is a Chilkat blanket made?
The blankets are finger-woven using strips of cedar bark wrapped in yarn made from mountain goat wool, as the warp (vertical strands), and dyed mountain goat wool, as the weft (horizontal strands).
How long does it take to make a Chilkat blanket?
one to four years
Originating in the Pacific Northwest, Chilkat weaving is a complex finger-twined weaving style requiring a great deal of expertise, time, and dedication. A single Chilkat ceremonial robe—also called a dancing blanket—can take one to four years to weave.
What is the use of the woven Chilkat blanket?
Chilkat weaving is a traditional form of weaving practiced by Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and other Northwest Coast peoples of Alaska and British Columbia. Chilkat blankets are worn by high-ranking tribal members on civic or ceremonial occasions, including dances.
What is the overall design of a traditional Chilkat blanket?
The patterns were a highly stylized form of art often representing clan symbols and natural forms in an abstract geometric pattern. Animals were portrayed as if sliced down the center and laid out flat. The small circles are ball and socket joints. Eyes were often used as space fillers.
What is Chilkat?
Definition of Chilkat 1 : a Tlingit people of southeastern Alaska. 2 : a member of the Chilkat people.
Why was the Chilkat blanket created?
This blanket was made sometime between 1850 and 1885 by the Chilkat, a northern Tlingit tribe in Alaska. Chilkat blankets are prestige objects worn over the shoulder by men and women during dances and ceremonies on the Northwest Coast.
What does Chilkat mean?
Who designed Chilkat blankets?
Women of both the Tlingit and Haida—who bore sole responsibility for the preparation of materials and weaving the blankets following the spring-time harvesting of cedar bark and mountain goat—intricately formed Chilkat blankets by similar twined weaving techniques as the cultures’ baskets: yarn constructed by spinning …
How do you use Chilkat in Python?
Chilkat for Python 3.4. * Windows Install Instructions
- Download. Download the binary distribution and unzip to any directory.
- Verify Python 3.4. * is Installed.
- Find the site-packages Directory.
- Move Files to site-packages Directory.
- Run the testChilkat.py Sample to Verify.
What are Chilkat robes?
This wonderful Tlingit Chilkat Robe is a ceremonial garment originating from the Chilkat people of the Tlingit Nation from the Northwest Coast of Canada. The robe is made from yellow cedar bark and mountain goat wool dyed with plant extracts and would have been woven by a woman.
How do I install Chilkat on Windows?
How to Install the Chilkat PHP Extension on Windows
- Download. Chilkat PHP Downloads.
- Unzip to any Directory. Use a tool such as 7-Zip or zip functionality built into Windows Explorer to unzip.
- Copy Files to the PHP extensions directory.
- Edit php.ini to Automatically Load the Chilkat Extension.
What is Chilkat weaving?
Chilkat weaving is one of the most complex weaving techniques in the world. It is unique in that the artist can create curvilinear and circular forms within the weave itself. A Chilkat robe can take a year to weave.
What is a Chilkat blanket?
Chilkat blankets are worn by high-ranking tribal members on civic or ceremonial occasions, including dances. Kwagu’ł woman wearing the same fringed Chilkat blanket by Mary Ebbetts Hunt shown above right (worn backwards), a hamatsa neckring and mask representing a deceased relative who had been a shaman. Photograph by Edward S. Curtis c. 1883.
Making a Chilkat blanket takes about a year. The blankets are intended to be worn over the shoulders for ceremonies and dances. Amelia Fay is the curator of the HBC collection at the Manitoba Museum.
How long does it take to weave a Chilkat robe?
A Chilkat robe can take a year to weave. Traditionally mountain goat wool, dog fur, and yellow cedar bark are used in Chilkat weaving. Today sheep wool might be used.
