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Rabbit-skin blanket

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians rabbit-skin blanket
ca. 1880
San Manuel Reservation, San Bernardino County, California
Rabbit skin, cotton
104 x 105 cm
Collected by Edward H. Davis
7/2281

Rabbit was the most abundant game species in California, and rabbit pelts were used to make soft and very warm capes worn around the shoulders or used as blankets. Approximately forty to a hundred rabbit skins were used to make a cape. Rabbits were skinned very carefully in order to keep the entire pelt intact. The pelt was cut into a single strip of fur measuring ten to fifteen feet in length. These strips were then linked together and finally woven into a cape.

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