THE KOLINAHR MASTER

These elaborately decorated robes were worn by one of the noted Kolinahr Masters of Gol. The namesake of the Museum, these robes are an important example of Vulcan craftmanship and style

WHAT IS KOLINAHR?

Kolinahr is the advanced Vulcan mental discipline that purges all vestiges of emotion from the aspirant. Although all Vulcans practice some level of emotional control, only the most devoted Vulcan students are able to master the years of training needed to pass the final Kolinahr Ritual.

Traditionally, the candidate will fullfil the final Ritual at the steps of Mount Kol, in the province of Gol. After the Vulcan Masters presiding over the Ritual have determined the student successful, the student is presented a Kolinahr Necklace, hand wrought by the aspirants themselves as part of their training.

The Museum's showpiece are the Robes worn by one of the three Kolinahr Masters who presided over Spock's Kolinahr Ritual in 2273 CE. The costume consists of a heavy under-robe and elaborately decorated tabard. The under-robe is a full-length flowing robe of heavy metallic brown fabric, accented with red velvet trim.  The sleeves are extremely long and exaggerated and flow down to nearly the length of the robe itself. The tabard is hand crafted of linens, metallic fabrics and velvet trim. It is elaborately quilted and crafted in traditional Golic geometric patterns and accented with jeweled panels and ornaments that feature ancient calligraphic symbols. 

The back of the robes are shown here with a different under robe, again featuring the dimensionally layered geometric patterns, elaborate quilting and jeweled elements characteristic of Golic style.

The Kolinahr Master's Robes were designed by Robert Fletcher for Star Trek The Motion Picture. Fletcher continued to design the costumes for the next three Star Trek movies. He established very distinct vernacular styles for Klingon and Vulcan attire, elements of which have been referenced in every subsequent Star Trek series. 

These robes continued to be used beyond the first movie: they were used again in Star Trek The Search for Spock, by Vulcan Masters attending Spock's Fal Tor Pan Ritual on Mount Seleya. They were worn again by Vulcan Delegates attending the Khitomer Conference in 2293 CE. 

Acquisition of this ensemble took several years to complete. The Kolinahr Tabard was acquired at the Christie's Star Trek auction in 2006, but was sold with a generic beige under robe, not the original metallic/velvet robe: over time, the costume elements had been separated in the vast costume warehouses. IAW in Los Angeles was consequently contracted to oversee the auction of the rest of Paramount's vast warehouses of Star Trek assets. Finally, in 2009, IAW found and auctioned the original under robe, and the two pieces were once again reunited.