These blankets first appeared in canadian trading posts in the 1700s, and aside from bedding, they. These blankets first appeared in canadian trading posts in. For over fifteen years i have been researching the history of these blankets and recently published two books on the subject. I have identified and dated some twodozen styles of labels used by the hudson s bay company since 1890. By the 19th century there was a string of hudsons bay company posts throughout canada. Why some folks feel weird about hudsons bay blankets.
Beaver pelts were exchanged for blankets through the hudson s bay company and its outposts throughout northern canada. May 21, 2014 1800s hudson bay blanket capote coats,mountain man,rendezvous stay safe and healthy. It is a 2 point cream color with the black, yellow, red and green stripes on both ends. Genuine hudson bay blanket capote coat 3xl mountainman rendezvous 4 po. Some were tailored for and sold by the bay, others, while they bear the fabric tag showing they were made from hudsons bay blankets, were made into coats by and were retailed by third party companies, as is the case with the red maine guide coat pictured below.
The complicated history of the hudsons bay point blanket. For over two centuries the hudson s bay company point blanket has been a familiar item in canada and around the world. The true hudsons bay blankets were made in england. See more ideas about blanket coat, mountain man and capote coat. Hbc heritage our history the hbc point blanket faqs.
If the blanket has a label the task is fairly easy. For nearly two and a half centuries, the hudsons bay point blanket has been an iconic product in canada and around. An illustrated history of the hudsons bay blanket, by. Wool blanket capote 2xl 4 point white witney w black stripe. Photo via very few blankets hold the iconic status that hudson s bay point blankets do. Harold tichenor welcome to the site exclusively dedicated to point blankets.
As canadas most iconic retailer celebrates 350 years. We dive into the history of the hudsons bay company and unpack the very complicated story of the iconic striped blanket. Hudson s bay point blankets were used twice by admiral byrds expeditions to the antarctic. Although blankets had been a trade good offered for some time, it was not until 1779 that the hudsons bay point blanket came to life. Hudson bay striped belted point blanket wool coat double breasted size large. The company is named for the hudson bay and the blankets were typically traded to first nations in exchange for beaver pelts.
Jul 28, 20 the hudsons bay blanket coat enjoyed a surge of popularity on the united states market in the mid through late 1930s. Hudson s bay company hbc was founded after the 1668 voyage of the nonsuch had demonstrated the commercial feasibility of sailing through hudson straits and into hudson bay in order to acquire furs. Hudson s bay wool point blankets in the late 1700s, wool blankets were so important to comfort and survival that they were used as a form of currency in trading between trappers and native americans. Mirroring the mackinaw craze of 19121915, the style was brought over the border to the us by tourists and seasonal workers who had seen the coats in use in canada and been impressed with their warmth and durability. Shop hudson s bay for handbags, womens and mens clothing and shoes, and housewares. In 1779, hbc commissioned the textile mill of thomas empson of witney, oxfordshire, to produce pointed blankets. Yes, the title is a bit of a mouthful, but it has become a standard reference for antique. After finishing his first book for the hbc the blanket. These stripped blankets were created by the hudsons bay company in the northern part of north america in 1780. Traditionally the size of the coat was established by the size of the blanket. Bean classic since 1925, this heritage striped wool blanket is practically windproof and water repellent to keep you warm and dry. Hudsons bay wool point blankets in the late 1700s, wool blankets were so important to comfort and survival that they were used as a form of currency in trading between trappers and native americans. Hbc heritage is an internal department of hudsons bay company. Sale, vintage 50s, hudson bay point blanket coat, made in england, by hudson s bay co.
A hudsons bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the hudsons bay company hbc in british north america now canada and the united states during the 1700s and 1800s. Jan 11, 20 photo via very few blankets hold the iconic status that hudson s bay point blankets do. If you are interested in anything to with the fur trade then i heartily recommend it. It will last a lifetime, according to leon leonwood bean himself, who always kept one on hand even in his car. Mar 19, 2018 it was time to look further into the iconic status of the hudsons bay point blanket. The hudsons bay blanket coat enjoyed a surge of popularity on the united states market in the mid through late 1930s. With its proud stripes and distinctive black markings, the hudson s bay point blanket is a canadian icon. In order to use all of the site functionality on the the bay website, you must have javascript enabled on your browser. An illustrated history of the hudson s bay point blanket, written by noted hbc point blanket collector harold tichenor. The manufacture of hbc classic coat designs ceased in 2000 but in 2009 the bay as it is now known introduced a new product line based on the traditional multistripe blanket pattern. The blanket design was introduced in the late 1700s by the hbc, and the material was soon adapted into coats by fur traders. I found only a couple of tiny nibbles, but no holes in the blanket its self. Embodying the timelessness and warmth of a classic camel coat, the enduring beauty of this reissued point blanket reflects hudsons bays role as.
Typically, the wool blankets were traded with native americans for pelts. Charles lindbergh wore point blanket coats on their flight to europe by way of greenland and iceland. There are a number of clues to dating the manufacture of various point blankets. An illustrated history of the hudson s bay point blanket. With its proud stripes and distinctive black markings, the hudsons bay point blanket is a canadian icon. Absolutely fascinating history of the hudsons bay companys point blanket. Germain maugenest first suggested to the companys london committee that pointed blankets become a regular trade item. Made from hudsons bay point blankets, these striped coats are iconically canadian.
The coat could be made out of any thick wool blanket. Hudsons bay company 90 by 100inch queen size 6 point blanket, scarletblack stripe. Our capotes are beautifully made with hudson bay blankets in either redblack or white multi patterns. The iconic hudsons bay point blanket has a complicated history with indigenous people in canada. From the research i have done, i believe it dates between 1950s to 1970s. The hudsons bay point blanket, which has its roots in the fur trade, has now become an emblem of the country.
The company sold most of its european operations by august 2019 and its remaining stores, in the netherlands, were closed by the end of 2019. Hudsons bay blanket coats vintagehaberdashers blog. Long life of hudsons bay company like a fever in the blood, the rivalry between the north west fur company and the hudsons bay company for control of the canadian fur trade, the golden treasure of the kingdom of the north, had been rising in intensity for months. Easeland soft king size blanket winter warm microplush lightweight thermal fleece blankets for. The hudsons bay company originated in 1670 as fur trading posts, where furs were traded for manufactured goods. Hi i am trying to determine the age and value of this blanket. Beaver pelts were exchanged for blankets through the hudsons bay company and its outposts throughout northern canada. To promote the collection, ten canadian fashion designers were invited to create oneofakind coats from hudsons bay company point blankets. A hudson s bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the hudson s bay company hbc in british north america now canada and the united states during the 1700s and 1800s. Insert this end into the armhole silt approximately 1 and stitch around the edge of the slit with blanket stitch.
The blankets continue to be sold by canadas hudson s bay stores and have come to hold. Hbc heritage our history the hbc point blanket history. The history of the hudsons bay point blanket the cavender. Photo via very few blankets hold the iconic status that hudsons bay point blankets do. I have also done a considerable amount of research on the dates of labels used on blankets made by many. Vtg schaefer outfitter mens xl cream wool coat hudson bay style stripes 60s 70s. First commissioned by hudsons bay company hbc in 1800, the multistripe design lives on as a testament to our shared canadian heritage. Feb 12, 20 traditionally the size of the coat was established by the size of the blanket. Aug 12, 2018 and it was the striped hudsons bay company point blanket that helped pioneer the way. I have identified and dated some twodozen styles of labels used by the hudsons bay company since 1890. Jul 15, 2010 the hudsons bay company originated in 1670 as fur trading posts, where furs were traded for manufactured goods. We are committed to the preservation, education, and promotion of hudsons bay companys history and the ongoing care and maintenance of the companys historical hbc.
All buttons are handmade antler and loops are buckskin. Hudson bay blanket style mountain man voyager capote extra large longe. Wool blanket capote coat, 2xl, red w black stripe, muzzleloaders, hunters. This connection was originally made possible by wooden sailing vessels.
The iconic hudson s bay point blanket has a complicated history with indigenous people in canada. Sale, vintage 50s, hudson bay point blanket coat, made in england, by hudsons bay co. See what customers said about these highly rated items. A fur trading business for much of its existence, hbc now owns and operates retail stores in canada and the united states. A capote pattern, hudson s bay blankets, as well as witney blankets are available at. According to the official company history, blankets had been taken to hudson bay as trade goods as far back. For over two centuries the hudsons bay company point blanket has been a familiar item in canada and around the world. Find new and preloved hudson bay items at up to 70% off retail prices. We are committed to the preservation, education, and promotion of hudsons bay companys history and the ongoing care and maintenance of the companys historical hbc corporate art, artifact, image, and reference collections. The blankets continue to be sold by canadas hudsons bay. S the four traditional colours green, red, yellow and indigo were simply colours that were popular and easily produced using good colorfast dyes at the time that the multistripe blanket was introduced. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
Point blankets are a type of trade blanket and are most closely associated with the hudsons bay company who have been marketing them into north america since 1779. For books and films referenced in this episode please visit our website at. These stripped blankets were created by the hudson s bay company in the northern part of north america in 1780. Painting by stephen pearce, courtesy british columbia archives, victoria, b. How the hudsons bay point blanket became a canadian emblem. Hudsons bay polar fleece throw one size multi stripe by hudsons bay 4. Determining age and value of hudson bay blanket the ebay. Why some folks feel weird about hudsons bay blankets cbc radio.
Hudsons bay point blanket wikipedia republished wiki 2. A brief history of canadas iconic hudsons bay blanket. Courtesy hudsons bay company archives, winnipeg, manitoba. Extra large hudsons bay blanket coat vintagehaberdashers blog. How to make hudson bay capote indian blanket coat learn. An illustrated history of the hudsons bay point blanket, written by noted hbc point blanket collector harold tichenor. Hudsons bay polar fleece throw one size multi stripe by hudson s bay 4. Hudson s bay company 90 by 100inch queen size 6 point blanket, scarletblack stripe. Genuine hudson bay blanket capote coat 3xl mountainman.
And it was the striped hudson s bay company point blanket that helped pioneer the way. Absolutely fascinating history of the hudson s bay companys point blanket. Made from hudson s bay point blankets, these striped coats are iconically canadian. Map of hudsons bay company territory with the united states below dotted line lower left, 1800s. Throughout the 18th century, wool blankets were among the most popular trade items in the canadian fur trade, accounting for more than 60% of all goods exchanged by 1700. Shop hudsons bay for handbags, womens and mens clothing and shoes, and housewares.
Hbc stripes hbc x smythe womens blanket swing coat thebay. It is enjoyed as much today as when it was first introduced into the fur trade in 1780. A capote pattern, hudsons bay blankets, as well as witney blankets are available at. Common research topics hudsons bay company archives. Maritime voyages remained an important part of hbcs operations until the sale of its last ship, m. How the hudsons bay point blanket became a canadian. Point blanket coats remained popular in canada, first as utilitarian garments, later as fashion. The hudson bay blanket label is attached and in fine condition. Hudsons bay point blankets were used twice by admiral byrds expeditions to the antarctic. Hudson bay company wool jacket striped vintage canada blanket coat winter xl. Hudsons bay company hbc was founded after the 1668 voyage of the nonsuch had demonstrated the commercial feasibility of sailing through hudson straits and into hudson bay in order to acquire furs. An illustrated history of the hudsons bay point blanket.
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