Museum Exhibited 1920s Native American Child's Button Blanket | Northwest Coast Wolf Crest Regalia | Smithee Collection Nacre Wool Robe

Details

Description

A rare opportunity to acquire museum-grade, documented Native American history. Sourced directly from the prestigious Ronny and Doris Smithee Collection, … Read more A rare opportunity to acquire museum-grade, documented Native American history. Sourced directly from the prestigious Ronny and Doris Smithee Collection, this extraordinary circa 1920 Northwest Coast child's button blanket represents the absolute pinnacle of Indigenous textile artistry and high-status ceremonial regalia.

Crafted on a heavy black wool foundation, this museum-caliber robe features a meticulously hand-sewn, stylized Wolf crest executed in brilliant red stroud wool appliqué. What sets this piece apart is its breathtaking embellishment: hundreds of genuine, highly iridescent mother-of-pearl (nacre) buttons densely adorn the crest and perimeter. Designed specifically for a child, the garment measures 22 by 18 inches, yet weighs an incredible 20 pounds—a sheer density of shell that directly reflects its elite cultural origins.

Provenance is ironclad and deeply rooted in Oklahoma City collection history. The renowned Ronny and Doris Smithee Collection is celebrated for its discerning historic Native American textiles, famously achieving a rare "White Glove" (100% sold) status at a prominent 2025 Freeman’s | Hindman auction. Furthermore, this specific blanket carries an institutional pedigree, having been formerly exhibited at the Museum of the Red River.

Date of Manufacture: Circa 1920
Style: First Nations Northwest Coast
Item Dimensions: 22" L x 18" W x 8" H
Item Weight: 20 lbs

Condition Details:
Exceptional original antique condition. The wool textile remains visually striking, vibrant, and structurally secure. As is to be expected with authentic ceremonial wear over a century old, a handful of the shell buttons show natural chipping or halving—beautiful, honest markers of its historic journey and period use. Note: Do not dry clean.

Shipping Note: Due to the extreme density of the antique shell buttons (20 lbs total), this item will ship heavily protected and flat-packed in a rigid 24" L x 24" W x 8" H double-walled art box to prevent structural crushing. Fully insured with signature tracking required.

Note from the Gallery:
This piece is a carefully curated fragment of history, hand-selected from an exclusive estate collection or prestigious regional auction house. Many of our fine items are vintage or antique and will naturally display subtle signs of age, past stewardship, and historical character. We invite you to examine all accompanying high-resolution photographs closely, as they constitute the definitive documentation of the item's surface condition. Any peripheral objects or staging elements shown in the imagery are for conceptual display purposes only and are excluded from this offering. See less