A Northwest Coast Chilkat blanketDesigned in a whale motif, with formline faces head on and in profile in yellow, light blue, and cream, with a fringed lower edge.
size approximately 3ft 1 1/2in x 5ft 9in
FootnotesProvenance
Mrs. Coram (Cora M?) Russell, Seattle, WA;
Gene Zema, Seattle, WA, acquired from the above March 4, 1957
As referenced on the accompanying inventory card in Gene's hand, see Emmons, George T. and Boas, Franz, Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History; Vol. 3, Part 4; The Chilkat Blanket, 1907, p. 387, Fig. 580, which illustrates a very similar blanket design to the present lot, with minor stylistic variations. The following text accompanies that image:
"According to Emmons, the design represents a killer-whale. in each lower corner is one-half of the head, with the teeth; right in front of the teeth, the nostril; between the two halves of the head, at the lower border of the blanket, the tail. The inverted face in the middle above represents the body. The large square designs containing the goggle design on each side are interpreted as the water blown out from the blow-hole. One-half of the dorsal fin is indicated by the small round wing-feather design in each upper corner, the human face in profile under it representing one-half of the blow-hole.
According to Swanton, the GonaqAde't (a mythical sea creature) is represented. One-half of the head is shown in each lower corner, the eye design in front of the tongue being interpreted as the chin. The two faces in the middle of the lower border are interpreted as the young ones of the GonaqAde't; the flicker-feather designs over them, as the inner part of the body of the old animal. The inverted large face in the middle, at the upper border, is interpreted as its hat; the large square design on each side of this face, containing the goggle design, as the dorsal fin. The two human faces in profile near the upper corners are young ones, the body shown by the round feather design over the face.
Another interpretation of this design, obtained by Franz Boas, is a killer-whale in the two halves of the head in each lower corner; the food of the killer-whale represented by the eye design in front of the mouth; the tail below, in the middle; the two halves of the dorsal fin just over the tail. The chest is represented by the inverted face in the middle of the upper border; the flippers, by the adjoining square designs and the attached round feather designs. According to this description, the profile faces near the upper corners should be the blow-holes (see Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, Vol. IX, p. 174)."
The Memoirs, published at irregular intervals, but often out of chronological sequence, from 1893 until 1930, were monographic works focusing on scientific topics requiring exhaustive treatment. Henry Fairfield Osborn suggested the series in 1892. Ten volumes of the Memoirs comprise the results of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition, which was led by Franz Boas and was the first landmark research project of the AMNH Division of Anthropology.
Illustrated
The present lot is shown on display in a photograph of the study of one of the homes designed by the collector; Hildebrand, Grant, Gene Zema: Architect, Craftsman, 2011, University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA, p. 53, fig. 4.16
Gene K. Zema
Born on September 2, 1926, Gene grew up on a farm in California in the Sacramento Valley. He came to the University of Washington as an engineering student in 1944. He then served in the Navy during World War II, and upon returning to the University of Washington, changed programs and joined the Department of Architecture. He graduated from UW in 1950 with his Bachelor of Architecture degree.
While practicing as an architect, Gene increasingly became interested in regional indigenous art from the Pacific Northwest. He collected many Northwest coastal indigenous pieces and created large murals with Kwakiutl motifs. This interest was one he would pursue the rest of his life, incorporating many of these elements into his projects. Among his many architectural creations was the mid-50s home designed for distinguished scholar and authority on indigenous Pacific Northwest Coast art, Bill Holm Partial payment for Gene's architectural fee was a totem pole, carved by Holm. In fact, Gene incorporated much of the Seattle area and Pacific Northwest into all aspects of his designs and builds, a monument to the area, history, and people of the region. His collection of Northwest Native American art remained one of his proudest accomplishments.Read MoreAdditional informationAuction informationBuyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Buyers' Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories excluding Arms & Armor, Coins and Medals, Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Wine & Whisky28% on the first $50,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of $50,000 up to and including $1,000,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of $1,000,000 up to and including $6,000,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of $6,000,000.Payment NoticesPayment for purchases may be made in or by (a) cash, (b) cashier's check or money order, (c) personal check with approved credit drawn on a U.S. bank, (d) wire transfer or other immediate bank transfer, or (e) Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit, charge or debit card for returning clients only. Please note that the amount of cash notes and cash equivalents that can be accepted from a given purchaser may be limited.Shipping NoticesIf you have requested a shipping quote, we will send this to you via email within 5 business days of the auction ending.Please note our shipping quotes are bespoke and require special care and handling from our team and shippers. Shipping will be booked after payment is received. Please allow 7-14 business days from the time of booking for packing and dispatch, depending on your chosen shipping method. If your purchase is time sensitive, or you wish to explore other options, please see our list of alternative third party shippers in New York and Los Angeles who may be able to assist you.If you have any questions, please contact our Client Services team.Related DepartmentsNative AmericanAuction ViewingsLos Angeles26 June 2023, 12:00 - 17:00 PDT27 June 2023, 12:00 - 17:00 PDTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale
A Northwest Coast Chilkat blanketDesigned in a whale motif, with formline faces head on and in profile in yellow, light blue, and cream, with a fringed lower edge.
size approximately 3ft 1 1/2in x 5ft 9in
FootnotesProvenance
Mrs. Coram (Cora M?) Russell, Seattle, WA;
Gene Zema, Seattle, WA, acquired from the above March 4, 1957
As referenced on the accompanying inventory card in Gene's hand, see Emmons, George T. and Boas, Franz, Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History; Vol. 3, Part 4; The Chilkat Blanket, 1907, p. 387, Fig. 580, which illustrates a very similar blanket design to the present lot, with minor stylistic variations. The following text accompanies that image:
"According to Emmons, the design represents a killer-whale. in each lower corner is one-half of the head, with the teeth; right in front of the teeth, the nostril; between the two halves of the head, at the lower border of the blanket, the tail. The inverted face in the middle above represents the body. The large square designs containing the goggle design on each side are interpreted as the water blown out from the blow-hole. One-half of the dorsal fin is indicated by the small round wing-feather design in each upper corner, the human face in profile under it representing one-half of the blow-hole.
According to Swanton, the GonaqAde't (a mythical sea creature) is represented. One-half of the head is shown in each lower corner, the eye design in front of the tongue being interpreted as the chin. The two faces in the middle of the lower border are interpreted as the young ones of the GonaqAde't; the flicker-feather designs over them, as the inner part of the body of the old animal. The inverted large face in the middle, at the upper border, is interpreted as its hat; the large square design on each side of this face, containing the goggle design, as the dorsal fin. The two human faces in profile near the upper corners are young ones, the body shown by the round feather design over the face.
Another interpretation of this design, obtained by Franz Boas, is a killer-whale in the two halves of the head in each lower corner; the food of the killer-whale represented by the eye design in front of the mouth; the tail below, in the middle; the two halves of the dorsal fin just over the tail. The chest is represented by the inverted face in the middle of the upper border; the flippers, by the adjoining square designs and the attached round feather designs. According to this description, the profile faces near the upper corners should be the blow-holes (see Bulletin American Museum of Natural History, Vol. IX, p. 174)."
The Memoirs, published at irregular intervals, but often out of chronological sequence, from 1893 until 1930, were monographic works focusing on scientific topics requiring exhaustive treatment. Henry Fairfield Osborn suggested the series in 1892. Ten volumes of the Memoirs comprise the results of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition, which was led by Franz Boas and was the first landmark research project of the AMNH Division of Anthropology.
Illustrated
The present lot is shown on display in a photograph of the study of one of the homes designed by the collector; Hildebrand, Grant, Gene Zema: Architect, Craftsman, 2011, University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA, p. 53, fig. 4.16
Gene K. Zema
Born on September 2, 1926, Gene grew up on a farm in California in the Sacramento Valley. He came to the University of Washington as an engineering student in 1944. He then served in the Navy during World War II, and upon returning to the University of Washington, changed programs and joined the Department of Architecture. He graduated from UW in 1950 with his Bachelor of Architecture degree.
While practicing as an architect, Gene increasingly became interested in regional indigenous art from the Pacific Northwest. He collected many Northwest coastal indigenous pieces and created large murals with Kwakiutl motifs. This interest was one he would pursue the rest of his life, incorporating many of these elements into his projects. Among his many architectural creations was the mid-50s home designed for distinguished scholar and authority on indigenous Pacific Northwest Coast art, Bill Holm Partial payment for Gene's architectural fee was a totem pole, carved by Holm. In fact, Gene incorporated much of the Seattle area and Pacific Northwest into all aspects of his designs and builds, a monument to the area, history, and people of the region. His collection of Northwest Native American art remained one of his proudest accomplishments.Read MoreAdditional informationAuction informationBuyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Buyers' Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories excluding Arms & Armor, Coins and Medals, Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Wine & Whisky28% on the first $50,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of $50,000 up to and including $1,000,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of $1,000,000 up to and including $6,000,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of $6,000,000.Payment NoticesPayment for purchases may be made in or by (a) cash, (b) cashier's check or money order, (c) personal check with approved credit drawn on a U.S. bank, (d) wire transfer or other immediate bank transfer, or (e) Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit, charge or debit card for returning clients only. Please note that the amount of cash notes and cash equivalents that can be accepted from a given purchaser may be limited.Shipping NoticesIf you have requested a shipping quote, we will send this to you via email within 5 business days of the auction ending.Please note our shipping quotes are bespoke and require special care and handling from our team and shippers. Shipping will be booked after payment is received. Please allow 7-14 business days from the time of booking for packing and dispatch, depending on your chosen shipping method. If your purchase is time sensitive, or you wish to explore other options, please see our list of alternative third party shippers in New York and Los Angeles who may be able to assist you.If you have any questions, please contact our Client Services team.Related DepartmentsNative AmericanAuction ViewingsLos Angeles26 June 2023, 12:00 - 17:00 PDT27 June 2023, 12:00 - 17:00 PDTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale
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