Fragment: Coat

Anthropologist Homer Barnett notes that "goat wool was everywhere even more of a luxury item and a mark of social prominence than was buckskin. Only rich men's wives and daughters could afford aprons of this material, and only they wore robes woven of it. It was especially scarce on the island (1955:71)."

According to the collector's notes this woven coat was worn by Chief Charlie Solwheymault when he visited Queen Victoria (d. 1901), presumably in England. However it is possible the event refers to when a delegation of Salish Chiefs went to London to petition the King of England, in 1906.

status; wealth

Off-white wool weaving fragments, said to be from woven coat sleeves (also see A8042 a). Herringbone twill weave.