NAAXEIN • NAAXIIN • GWISHALAAYT • CHILKAT WEAVING

Naaxein (Chilkat Robe)

Diving Whale Pattern, Tlingit, Haida, or Tsimshian​​​​​​​, late 19th/early 20th century
ASM II-B-1744

Little is known about the origin of this robe, donated to the Alaska State Museum in 1974. Like this robe, many surviving robes have gone through several owners over the years, and whatever may have been known about its original history has been lost. Sometimes, robes can be traced back to their clan or tribe based on careful examination of historical photos showing the robe in ceremonial use. But robes were frequently sold or gifted between clans, tribes, and to non-Native collectors.

Naaxein (Chilkat Robe), Bird Robe

Gift of Belle G. Simpson, The Nugget Gift Shop, Juneau, 1967. ASM II-B-1441

While the interpretation of this robe’s formline design suggests a bird, earlier identifications have included osprey, beaver, or “Bear under Water.” Formline designs on objects used for gifting may have been purposefully left open to interpretation, allowing a new owner to assign a meaning to it that corresponds to their own history and crests. It was acquired by the Alaska Historical Library and Museum around 1921, but without any information on its maker or original owners.