Featured The most interesting/unique piece I’ve seen in while

I was scoping a textile auction briefly when I saw something I’ve never seen before. This incredible Greenland Inuit blanket. Behold: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/ite...wn-feather-blanket-circa-1900-philadelphia-pa

 

Looks to be very warm, nice. Took a lot of ducks to make that blanket. Did you happen to see that the buyers premium is 30%? That's high.

 

I tried to count the ducks who died to make this blanket and it looks to be over 72. Oh well, the Inuit needed to stay warm and no doubt ate the ducks.

 

It would be a nightmare to take care of, at least in warmer climates than the Arctic.

Here is the one at the Spencer Museum of Art that the auction description references -

https://spencerart.ku.edu/art/collections-online/object/33888

 

Ya think?

 

The pattern is what caught my eye—it almost looks like a patchwork quilt at first glance. There’s a lovely detail in the museum link 2manybooks shared: on their example, the stripes and border were created using the natural colours of the male ducks’ plumage, with the outer feathers removed to leave the soft down.

Imagine the patience involved in selecting and arranging those skins. Keeping warm is one thing, but someone clearly put a lot of thought into making it beautiful too.

 

Premiums in that range are getting to be standard.

 

The one at auction was deaccessioned from the Brooklyn Museum. Much smaller than the one held by the Spencer, child/baby size, but surely by the same hand.

 

I don’t blink at 30. I cringe over 30. I rejoice near 20. I think 37% is the highest I’ve partaken in, feels dirty.