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 kind of artifact is the Chilkat blanket?

Chilkat blankets are one of the best examples of the Northwest Coast’s exceptional weaving industry. This type of weaving originated with the Tsimshian and spread to other groups through marriage and trade, but the Chilkat Tlingit of Alaska developed a style that was greatly desired all along the coast.

Is a woven blanket warm?

Although it may be counter intuitive, loosely woven textile are warmer than tightly knit textiles. This is because the holes and spaces between the yarn fibers trap the warmth of your body. It takes a while for the heat to escape and it builds up inside the blanket next to your body creating superior warmth.

What type of blanket lasts the longest?

Cotton. Cotton blankets hold up well when repeatedly washed, reducing the build-up of allergens in the bed’s microclimate. Cotton can be lightweight enough to use for summer sleep or heavy enough for winter use.

What does Chilkat mean?

Definition of Chilkat 1 : a Tlingit people of southeastern Alaska. 2 : a member of the Chilkat people.

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 …

What does the word Chilkat mean?

What are the Mexican wolf blankets called?

Mexican Mercado Multicolored Striped Xtra Large Blanket Serapes, also known as Saltillo blankets, were woven and worn by the Aztecs back in the 1500s.