The Raven's Tail [Hardcover]

Cheryl Samuel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1987

"The rich wrap themselves up sometimes in white blankets, manufactured in the country, from the wool of the wild sheep, which is as soft and fine as the Spanish merino. These blankets are embroidered with square fringes, and figures with black and yellow tassels. Some of them are so curiously worked on one side with the fur of the sea otter, that they appear as if lined by it, and are very handsome." - Iurii Fedorovich Lisianskii, Sitka Sound, 1805. When Europeans first visited the north-western coast of North America, the weavers of the area were making robes of exquisite beauty to adorn the wealthiest of their noble class. Patterned in bold black and white designs streaked with scintillating dashes of yellow, these robes predate the better known Chilkat Blankets from the same area. Today only 11 robes exist, three of them as fragments. Another two are shown on Russian historical paintings by Mikhail Tikhanov. The only other known robes are found on an archival photograph and on two sketches by Pavel Milhailof. To produce this book, Cheryl Samuel travelled to Leningrad, Copenhagen, and London to examine the six robes in Europe. She also studied the robes housed in museums in Canada and the United States. Using this research material she was able to reconstruct Chief Kotlean's robe. In the process, she reconstructed an old weaving style no longer in use by the native people on the northern coast. In this work, Samuel presents the known historical data on the robes along with an analysis of the materials used and a description of the nine twining techniques.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A definitive work on a specific Northwest Coast technical achievement and brings new insight into the richness of Northwest Coast noble regalia. We are all indebted to the dedication, perseverance, skill and loving attention that Cheryl Samuel has brought to her chosen task. -- Bill Holm, American Indian Art Magazine The Raven's Tail is an outstanding book which broadens understanding about this ancient form of weaving. The author is devoted to passing on the information on these fabulous textiles to inspire a new generation of weavers on the Northwest coast. This work serves not only to document the past, but also to shape the future. -- Steve Henrikson, Ethnoart Index The Raven's Tail is a beautiful compilation with excellent photographs and detailed drawings depicting the complexity of a previously forgotten art form. The book is written in such a way to intrigue both artisan and historian . . . Has added to our knowledge of Northwest Coast Indians. -- Nora Shew, Alaska History

About the Author

Cheryl Samuel is an expert weaver living in Victoria, British Columbia. Her first book, The Dancing Blanket, revealed the mysteries of Chilkat weaving.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: Univ of British Columbia Pr; First Edition edition (November 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0774802960
• ISBN-13: 978-0774802963
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,105,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exciting find in Northwest Indian textile art, August 23, 1998

By 

Dee Longenbaugh ([e-mail]) (Juneau, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Raven's Tail (Hardcover)

There is a famous portrait of Katlian, Chief of the Kiksatti Clan of the Tlingit Indians of Sitka, Alaska, that shows him wearing a blanket of a design otherwise lost. Weaver Cheryl Samuel spent around a year trying to replicate the pattern, which she named "Raven's Tail." It is a bold black-and-white symmetrical design completely unknown today. The book is a result of Ms. Samuel's research. It is well-illustrated with photographs of her work. She not only finally managed to weave a blanket but since has traveled within Southeastern Alaska and down to British Columbia to demonstrate the technique to other weavers. There is an up-date to this; only a few weeks ago (July, 1998) a tiny sample of an actual blanket was discovered during an archaeological dig in Sitka, Alaska. To add to the excitement, another, larger piece has been discovered nearby. These show, on preliminary examination, a complete vindication of the author's technique. The only drawback to the book is the sometimes confused writing. Overall, an important book in the study of NW textiles, affirmed by the discovery of actual pieces.