The Albert and Vivien Hailstone Collection
Written by Ron Johnson
The Clarke Historical Museum is honored to be the recipient of the Hailstone Collection of Native American baskets. The public is invited to come down and enjoy this new exhibit with a special reception November 15, 2014 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Clarke Museum would like to honor our generous donor and to share a special video presentation about Vivien Hailstone “Through the Eyes of a Basketweaver”.
The donation of the Hailstone collection is a magnificent gift to the Clarke Historical Museum. The basic collection consists of baskets Vivien put aside from those she was selling at I-Ye-Quee gift shop in Hoopa beginning in 1959 for about forty years. Then her son Albert added other baskets to the collection. Thus this collection is mostly from the revival period and primarily consists of “made for the trade” or baskets made for sale. Vivien’s belief was that baskets were “art” not just craft. The trinket or fancy basket is at the heart of “made for the trade” baskets and are the most numerous in the collection. There are also some wonderful flour trays and other utility baskets made much earlier.
The Hailstone collection is mostly Yurok baskets, whereas the Hover collection is primarily Karuk baskets. Both collections have over two hundred baskets and perfectly complement each other in the Clarke Museum’s overall holdings. The Hover collection is mostly from the golden age of basketry beginning in the 1880s to the 1930s. The Hailstone collection is from the revival period beginning in the 1950s for about forty years. This collection has a large number of baskets by known weavers, which is rare in most museum collections. These include most of the greatest Yurok weavers: Amy Smoker, Ella Johnson, Lena McCovey, Queen James, Ada Charles, and other well known weavers. This was the period in which small trinket and tobacco baskets were favored and there are many beautiful examples in the collection.
In addition there are Karuk baskets by the Davis sisters, Madeline and Grace. Perhaps the most finely woven baskets in the collection are two attributed to Louisa Hickox from the 1920s. These were added to the collection by Albert. Vivien herself was a talented weaver, teacher, and advocate for basketry. She specialized in medallions which are well represented in the collection. She was certainly among the most prolific creators of medallions. These became very popular, since they were mainly hung around the neck and hers were backed with buckskin. She may also have assembled and finished medallions by other weavers.
There are so many beautiful baskets in this collection that viewers will undoubtedly be awed. The Clarke Historical Museum is very honored to be the recipient of this great collection and all of us extend our warmest thanks to Albert Hailstone for his vision and generosity.
The Hailstone Collection is on exhibit until summer 2015.
Clarke Historical Museum
Phone – 707-443-1947
Fax – 707-443-0290
240 E. Street
Eureka, CA 95501
http://www.clarkemuseum.org/
Phone – 707-443-1947
Fax – 707-443-0290
240 E. Street
Eureka, CA 95501
http://www.clarkemuseum.org/
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