Art, Prehistoric; Folk literature -- History and criticism
[114] George T. Emmons, The Chilkat Blanket, Memoirs of the American
Museum of Natural History, Vol. 3. Part 4, N. Y. 1907, pp. 352, 369,
372, 377, and 387.
The blanket shown in fig. 202 represents a bear with young. The large
central figure represents the male bear; the two inverted eyes in the
middle of the lower border, with the adjoining elongated designs with
round tips, the hind quarters of the bear and the legs; the three heads
in the middle of the upper margin, the female and the young bears.
The central head in the middle of the upper margin was also explained
as the forehead of the bear. The lateral panels represent each a
young bear. The design along the lower border of the lateral panel is
the freshwater stream on which the bear lives. According to John R.
Swanton the blanket represents the sea grizzly bear. The explanation
of the principal parts is the same as that given by Lieutenant Emmons,
except that the three heads in the middle along the upper border were
explained, the middle one as the top of the head, the lateral ones as
ears. The wing designs which extend sideways from the border, cutting
into the middle parts of the lateral panels, were explained as part of
the forelegs, representing, probably, the fins which are believed to be
attached to the arms of the sea grizzly bear. The two inverted eyes in
the lower border, with the ornaments attached to the right and left of
the eyes, were said to represent the hind legs.
[Illustration: Fig. 202. Chilkat blanket.]
[Illustration: Fig. 203. Chilkat blanket.]
The blanket shown in figure 203 represents, according to Emmons, a
female wolf and young. The body of the wolf is given the form of a
hawk; the two eyes and the wing designs between them, near the lower
border of the blanket, being the face of the hawk. The double feather
design over these eyes represents the hawk’s ears. The face in the
center of the lower border of the blanket represents the body, the
wing feather designs extending downward under the corners of the jaws
of the wolf, the wings of the hawk. In the lateral panels the young
wolf is shown sitting up. These designs represent probably at the same
time, the sides and back of the wolf’s body. According to Swanton the
blanket represents a young raven. The body of the raven is occupied
by two profiles of ravens, represented by the two large eyes near the
lower border of the blanket. The face in the centre of the lower border
is the raven’s tail. The lateral wing designs extending downward from
under the corners of the jaws of the large head, are the wings of the
raven. The lateral panels represent two young ravens in profile.
[Illustration: Fig. 204. Chilkat blanket.]
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