Lot 129
Northwest Coast, British Colombia, Haida, Simon Dick, ca. late 20th century CE. A fabulous button blanket or crest-style robe created by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Simon Dick (b. 1951) adorned with a Tree of Life design comprised of black wool and red suede-like fabric, with a blue and white floral patterned flannel collar as well as dozens of identical white buttons. According to Polly Sargent and Doreen Jensen, co-authors of "Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth" (1995) - the first oral history about these traditional works of fabric art and ritual, "The button blanket is eye-catching, prestigious and treasured - one of the most spectacular embellishments to the Indian culture of the Northwest Coast and a unique form of graphic and narrative art. The traditional crest-style robe is the sister of the totem pole and, like the pole, proclaims hereditary rights, obligations and powers. Unlike the pole, about which countless books and papers have been written, the button blanket has no chroniclers." Size: 60" W x 59" H (152.4 cm x 149.9 cm)
In the book "Robes of Power: Totem Poles on Cloth" (1995), Sargent and Jensen include a photograph of artist Simon Dick and his mother, Gertrude, holding another "Tree of Life" button blanket (figure 23) - similar to this one though not as old according to the current owner -with the following text, "Simon Dick was born a Kwagiutl in 1951 at Alert Bay, B.C. In ancient times, he might have grown up to be a medicine man. He was raised in the village of Kingcome, where the traditional lifestyle is still present. His knowledge of his culture stems from the teachings of the elders of the Kwak'wala dialect, in which he is fluent. He is the grandson of hereditary chiefs on both sides of his family. An excellent carver, he has produced bowls, masks, poles, and assisted with a canoe for Expo 86. A traditional dancer, he has not only potlatched but also performed internationally. He now makes his home in Vancouver, where he has a studio."
Simon Dick was born in an isolated coastal village in British Columbia. During his early childhood years, he lived the traditional lifestyle of his Kwicksutaineuk and Nax was dawx ancestors. His family moved to Alert Bay on the coast of Vancouver Island when Dick was in this teens. There he learned from master carvers, in particular apprenticing to Chief Tony Hunt Sr. - a renowned Kwakwak'wakw artist - at the Arts of the Raven gallery in Victoria British Columbia for four years. Dick now has a reputation as a master carver and works in other media including textiles and silver.
Provenance: private Phelps collection, Alamo, California, USA
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#128632
- Condition: There is a 1" hole to the lower right of the blanket/robe. Otherwise excellent.
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