Notes
YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP, SEATTLE, WA
HLG LEDGER VOL. II, p.135I, ITEM #1
LETTER AND ADDITIONAL INVOICE, pp. 135G,H
INVOICE DATE 10/2/1919
ALSO: 1001 CURIOUS THINGS by KATE DUNCAN, UNIV. OF WA. PRESS, 2000
p. 191, FRONT COVER OF CATALOG C, p. 30, fig. 1.12, AND ALSO LIKELY TOP PHOTO OF INSIDE THE SHOP FROM FRONT COVER OF BOOK.
"DOCUMENTATION OF THE CHILKAT BLANKET
The Harry L. George collection is one of the most well-documented American Indian collections in the world. It is possible to take an artifact and discover where and when Harry collected it. In addition, one might also find out who made the item and/or who owned or used it. And, sometimes we find out a lot more. I have enjoyed researching this collection for the last couple of years.
I have recently documented one of our higher profile artifacts, the Chilkat blanket (artifact # 143/5442) which is on display in our Harry George exhibit at the Frederick Avenue Site. The blanket was purchased from Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Washington on October 2, 1919 for $100. I based this information from a ledger invoice that Harry saved from that transaction. Harry George purchased a large quantity of artifacts from this dealer, J. E. Standley, owner of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
Arizona State University professor of Art History Kate Duncan has written about Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in her 2000 publication 1001 Curious Things. While reviewing the book, I noticed that a Chilkat blanket, very similar to ours, was draped over a chair just to the left of center in a photograph on the front cover of the book! On page 191, our blanket (or one nearly identical) was featured on the cover of a 1920 Ye Olde Curiosity Shop catalog.
While it is certainly possible that the Chilkat weaver produced more than one exact replica of this blanket, it is unlikely. We have consulted with Alaska State Archivist Zach Jones, an expert on Tlingit material culture, and he is of the opinion that our blanket pattern is rare and exactly like the one pictured in Duncan’s book. Nearly 100 years ago, this centerpiece of our current exhibit and collection was the featured image for Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Washington. It is still a striking artifact, and we hope you come visit while it is on display." From Museum Graphic Article Written by Dr. Robert Corder. 2/6/2019
