The Nuu-chah-nulth, formerly known as the Nootka, are the Indigenous peoples of the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Woven hats and baskets are central to Nuu-chah-nulth culture and have long been sought by collectors of Northwest Coast art. This rain hat is a fine example of Nuu-chah-nulth basketry and features a painted formline design of an animal – perhaps a seal or bear – in yellow, red, green, black, and blue pigments and a more abstracted design in black, blue, and red on the verso. The animal motif is representational and alludes to Northern Northwest Coast formal conventions while the opposing design is highly abstracted and draws more from Nuu-chah-nulth elements, such as the pill-shaped ovoids with black tertiary filler around the eyes and the repeating u-forms around the rim. The inside of this hat features several methods of weaving including plaiting, twining, and imbrication, making the hat as beautiful inside as it is outside.

Christopher W. Smith