NORTHWEST COAST CEREMONIAL BUTTON BLANKET – HAIDA KILLER WHALE

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NORTHWEST COAST CEREMONIAL BUTTON BLANKET – HAIDA KILLER WHALE:
$508.33

The ceremonialblanket is produced by Westcoast artist, Sue Campbell (Haida). Sue Campbelltraces her Haida ancestry from the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Qwaii) on thePacific Northwest coast of British Columbia and from Metlakatla Alaska. Her work is used primarily for ceremony andhas been shown by galleries and in private collections from around theworld.

The artwork isa full size button blanket that depicts the Haida Orca. The Haida spirit worldis inhabited by many creatures from the sea, known as Tsagan xaaydagaay, or theunderwater people. In their earthly form, the underwater people appear ashalibut, sharks, sea lions and most other mammals and fish from the sea.In the spirit world, however, they take the formof humans. Sgaana xaaydagaay, the killer whale people, are amongthe most powerful of the people from the sea. Many stories tell of Haida ancestors putting on skins of killer whalesto enter the realm of the spirit world, where killer whale people and humansvisit, communicate and feast together.

Button Blanketscame into use after contact, have now become the most popular piece ofcontemporary feast attire. In the past, family crest designs decorated withshells were sewn onto wool blankets acquired from maritime fur traders. Squaresof abalone shell were sewn to the eyes and joints of the crest figures toreflect bits of light as the wearer danced around a fire.

This blanket ishand made from traditional black wool melton cloth and red felt. It measuresapproximately 62”wide x 50”long. It ishand decorated with over 300 real shell buttons and a row of miniature handcarved cedar paddles. The artwork issuitable for hanging (as shown) or framing or ceremony.

Please emailthe artist directly with questions.

Hawwa’ (thankyou, haida)