Object Catalog Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
"Mother Robe" Ravenstail Garment |
Object # |
96.2.67.1 EDUC |
Object Name |
Robe, Ravenstail |
Date |
1990-1991 |
Artist |
Churchill, Delores (Design by) |
Additional Artist |
Samuel, Cheryl |
Description |
"Mother Robe" Ravenstail Garment Ravenstail robe woven with thigh-spun warp and commercially spun weft in Merino sheep wool, trimmed on top in sea otter, four bands of designs, with three bands of design on black. Fringe on sides and bottom. The design is in white, black, yellow and red - "the color of all races." Robe is held on with the use of leather ties. The robe was woven as a cooperative project among weavers in the communities of Ketchikan, Kake, Metlakatla, Hoonah, Juneau, White Horse, Sitka and Nass River, B.C. The workshop was led by Cheryl Samuel as part of the weaving symposium of the Totem Heritage Center. The "Mother Robe" design concept was conceived by Delores Churchill. Century - 20 Period - NWC Ravenstail weaving, known to the Tlingit as yéil koowú, has also been referred to as Northern Geometric style. Women artists designed and wove the ceremonial dance robes created by this method. Traditionally, a Ravenstail garment is woven from black and undyed wool with yellow accents. The weaving technique lent an abstract appearance to the design, but the elements were inspired by the natural environment and were given such names as "wave pattern" or "mouthtrack of the woodworm." Ravenstail robes predate Chilkat weaving and differ from the latter style in a number of ways, most notably in color and design. The Chilkat style allows the curving formline design, representing clan crests, to be worked into the pattern. Ravenstail twining technique is limited to geometric patterns which are similar to spruce root basketry. Knowledge about the style is meager due to the rarity of original examples. (Only eleven known ancient robes or fragments are to be found in collections). The earliest written observation of the robe dates from 1774; by the 1800s Ravenstail was no longer being made. The revival of the Ravenstail style was spearheaded by weaver Cheryl Samuel from an intensive study of the existing fragments. After deciphering the technique and publishing the information in 1987, she began teaching the skill. The "Mother Robe", dedicated in 1991, was the result of a symposium sponsored by Ketchikan Museums and the Ravenstail Weaver's Guild, led by Samuel. The "Mother Robe" is one of the first Ravenstail ceremonial robes to be made in modern times. The work was done in sections by approximately 80 weavers in Alaska and the Yukon who contributed 1150 hours to complete the project. The "Mother Robe" combines traditional and contemporary design elements. Designs from basketry and old Ravenstail were used, such as kaa jikóol kajóolani (old person back of hand tattooed) and the cross-hatch design. The inclusion of red accents rather than yellow was one contemporary idea. Others were the new designs created and named by the weavers, such as "ebbing tide", "mother river" and "looking from the top of the mountain." The upper and lower border design represent the weavers joining hands and is named "weavers of the past, present, and future." B. Abney, Ravenstail wall exhibit, Totem Heritage Center, 1998 |
Provenance |
This robe was woven and produced with the intent of being able to loan it out for use in ceremonial functions in Southeast Alaska by local native people. Ravenstail Workshop chronology (see file) Note: fur added along the collar 11/10/1991 |
Material |
Merino Sheep Wool/ Sea Otter Fur/ Leather |
Dimensions |
W-59 L-54 inches |
Dimension Details |
Length is from longest warp. Old dimensions: 134.62 cm x 114.3 cm Portion: OVERALL FRINGES ON SIDE 12" LONG |
People |
Allen, Yvonne Almquist, Phyllis Bienek, Irene Carolsfeld, Mechlild Churchill, Delores Clark, Louise Criswell, Jan Douglas-Willard, Diane Inman, Delma Johnson, Vesta Kahle, Lorraine Karras, Bertha Monford, Alena Peele, Sarah Rado, Kathy Rousso, Kathy Samuel, Cheryl Scobolef, Vickie Shea, Esther Smith, Rosanne Southard, Dee Sykes, Charlene Thomas, Diane Utterburg, Dorothy |
Search Terms |
Northwest Coast Raven Regalia Haida Tlingit Tsimshian Weaving Raven's Tail City of Ketchikan Alaska State Council on the Arts Artifact of the Month article |
Multimedia link |
Artifact of the Month article |
Credit line |
Ketchikan Museums, KM 96.2.67.1 EDUC |