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Preston Singletary

Tlingit Hat

Now On View

Description

Maker

Preston Singletary (Tlingit, b. 1963 in San Francisco, CA)

Title

Tlingit Hat

Year

2020

Medium

Blown and sand carved glass

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Blown and sand carved glass

Dimensions

Height: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 inches) (approx.)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

[inscribed on bottom] Preston Singletary 2020

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Museum purchase: gift of Joseph A. Chazan, MD in honor of John W. Smith

Object Number

2021.11

Type

Glass

Exhibition History

Art and Design from 1900 to Now

Jun 04, 2022 – Sep 01, 2026

Label copy

Preston Singletary creates glass sculptures that reference designs from his Tlingit heritage, but explains that traditional materials are becoming increasingly rare, resulting in “the need for new materials, new mediums to tell the stories of the people.” Singletary’s blown-glass, sand-carved hats are based on Native Northwest Coast painted crest hats made from cedar bark or spruce root. Commissioned by the RISD Museum, this work combines designs from a Tlingit Chilkat robe in the museum’s collection with references to Singletary’s own Killer Whale clan.

–Emily Banas, assistant curator of decorative arts and design

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This object is in copyright

Tombstone

Preston Singletary (Tlingit, b. 1963 in San Francisco, CA)

Tlingit Hat, 2020

Blown and sand carved glass

Height: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 inches) (approx.)

Museum purchase: gift of Joseph A. Chazan, MD in honor of John W. Smith 2021.11

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