How do you date a Hudson Bay blanket?
In 1890, because other companies (including Pendleton) were making similar blankets, Hudson Bay began to label its blankets. The labels are how most collectors date the age of the blanket. If you ever spy an unlabeled, round corner blanket, scoop it up. It could date before 1890.
Are Hudson Bay point blankets still made?
Today, Hudson’s Bay Point Blankets continue to be produced and sold in Multistripe, Millennium (four stripes in shades of brown introduced in 2000), White with black bar, Scarlet with black bar, Green with black bar and Grey with black bar.
What do the points mean on a Hudson Bay blanket?
The term “point,” in this case, originates from the French word empointer, which means “to make threaded stitches on cloth.” The points were simply a series of thin black lines on one of the corners of the blanket, which were used to identify the size of the blanket.
How do I identify my Hudson Bay blanket?
It is a 2 point cream color with the black, yellow, red and green stripes on both ends. The label is white with orange lettering and reads “Hudson Bay Point Blanket, Hudson Bay Company Incorporated 1670 (in circle with crest design), The Seal of Quality, 100% wool, US Reg No.
Are Hudson Bay blankets offensive?
“I found absolutely no evidence that the Hudson’s Bay company ever purposely infected anybody with blankets and smallpox,” said professor Paul Hackett from the University of Saskatchewan, who has researched the history of the Hudson Bay blanket.
What are the colors of Hudson Bay blanket?
Current use. Versions of the blanket are available at Hudson’s Bay stores throughout Canada. Solid colours are available, as is the classic pattern featuring the green, red, yellow, and indigo stripes.
Who makes Hudson Bay point blankets?
Woolrich Home
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 100 x 90 x 0.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Woolrich Home |
| ASIN | B000T2VLH0 |
| Item model number | 995060 |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars |
Who makes Hudson Bay blankets?
The blankets have always been made in England; today they are made by John Atkinson, a sub brand of A.W. Hainsworth & Sons Ltd. Wools from Britain and New Zealand are used in the manufacture of blankets.
What are Hudson Bay points worth?
You can redeem points in increments as low as 1000 points, which has a $5 cash value.
What size is a 4 point Hudson Bay blanket?
measures72 W x 90 L
The Hudson’s Bay 4-Point Wool Blanket measures72 W x 90 L and fits a standard double bed. Hudson’s Bay Blankets have been imported from England since 1779 and were once used as a form of currency between trappers and Native Americans.
What disease was on the blankets?
North American colonists’ warfare against Native Americans often was horrifyingly brutal. But one method they appear to have used—perhaps just once—shocks even more than all the bloody slaughter: The gifting of blankets and linens contaminated with smallpox.
Did Hudson Bay blankets have smallpox?
What is a Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket?
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 from 1779 to present. The blankets were typically traded to First Nations in exchange for beaver pelts.
What is the difference between a point blanket and Capote?
Like the iconic Point Blankets themselves, Point Blanket Coats share a similarly long and interesting history. A capote is a handmade wrap-style coat often made from a Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket. Capotes date back to the mid-17th century and are arguably the earliest iterations of the Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket Coat.
Where can I buy a point blanket?
Five U.S. retailers currently sell the blankets to consumers: Woolrich, Lord & Taylor (former sister chain to Hudson’s Bay), L.L.Bean, Getz’s Department Store in Marquette, Michigan and Johnson Woolen Mills. Genuine point blankets have become very collectible and could fetch prices up to thousands of dollars.
Who introduced point blankets to North America?
In the North American fur trade, by 1700, wool blankets accounted for more than 60 per cent of traded goods. French fur-trader Germain Maugenest is thought to have advised the HBC to introduce point blankets. Originally point blankets had a single stripe across each end, usually in blue or red.