Lot 329

Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Coat w/ Beadwork 1950

Estimate: $600 - $900

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
This is an original mid century Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blanket Coat / Jacket with beaded collar. The beadwork is likely Native American done, but a tribe is unknown. Hudson Bay blankets being used as coats dates back to circa mid-17th Century and were worn by First Nations and early Fur Traders, these types of jackets were known as Capote’s. Later “The Mackinaw” was born in 1811 when British Captain Charles Roberts at St. Joseph Island in the St. Mary’s River near Sault St. Marie could not procure winter gear from Quebec and instead ordered a supply of 3.5 point Hudson’s Bay Point Blankets and commissioned a group of local Indigenous women to make coats for his 40 men (from HBCHeritage.ca), later his men occupied American Fort Michilimackinac in Michigan as the War of 1812 began, ordering more jackets with shorter double breasted style becoming known as the Mackinaw. The first commercial jacket was introduced in 1922 and further in 1929 and later worn for the Canadian National Winter Olympic Games as a symbol of Canada in the 1960’s. This jacket likely dates to circa 1950-1970’s and has been further adorned with glass trade pony beads in the same white background with stripes in blue, yellow, red and green; in the same pattern of the iconic blanket (bead colors known as cobalt, greasy yellow, semi-transparent red and semi-transparent green). The jacket is a 3-point blanket with the points being found inside the blanket under the right arm-pit. The piece has a belt with leather wrapped metal buckle with double large buttons with large collar, large pockets and smaller integral pockets just above. The inside has the original tag which reads, “This Garment Is Made From Genuine / Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket / Hudson’s Bay Company Incorporated 1670 (the company logo) / The Seal Of Quality / 100% Wool / Laine / Made In Canada / Name _____ / CA00234” with a smaller tag that reads, “DRY CLEAN ONLY” and above a small tag that reads, “HB10 38 (then hand written 28 maybe?) HB7269”. The coat appears to be in a good condition for its age with little to no loss the fabric, near original condition being well preserved. The buckle has wear. The jacket has a good soft well preserved material and good smell. When the buttons are closed and the jacket is laid as it is photographed the piece measures 40”L by 38.5”W. The shoulders appear to be 19”W from the seem to seem (not including the arms). The tag denotes a 38 size but size is unknown.