Hat
Isabella Edenshaw
Northwest Coast
Aboriginal: Haida
1875-1900, 19th century
Spruce root and bark, paint
19.5 x 38 cm
Gift of the Art Association of Montreal
ME928.57.3
© McCord Museum
Description
Keywords:  Hat (75)

Description

Charles Edenshaw is one of the most recognized names in Northwest Coast art. He also painted hats, most of them woven by his wife, Isabella, who was also a renowned basket maker. We know that this hat, collected by George Mercer Dawson in the 1870s, was painted by Edenshaw because it displays his emblem or "signature": a four-pointed star with each point divided into red and black segments. Although he produced many traditional pieces for use within Haida culture, much of Charles Edenshaw's work - probably including this hat - was made for sale to non-Natives.