Authentic Native American Blankets

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Who was I to judge this? I am not an expert on Native American history. I was intrigued enough to read on. It was full of historical significance and had an amazing provenance, which I found to my delight!It dates back to mid-nineteenth-century, when John Chantland, a Scandinavian immigrant from Norway, traded unspecified goods for it. It was passed down through the generations until its recent sale.Native American blankets are a relic from the "First Phase" Navajo weaving. Using techniques derived from the Puebla the Navajos woven tightly-woven blankets with a simple striped pattern, using the finest wool available.

Authentic Native American Blankets

The best way to learn is to look at as many weavings as you can in galleries and museums, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Soon you’ll be matching the terminology to the weavings and you’ll begin to feel a surge of confidence. When you decide to buy, focus on a reputable dealer who will take time to answer all your questions simply and directly, and make sure they are willing to give you a written guarantee of authenticity. Happy collecting! Navajo rugs have been made for nearly 500 years, but they have recently made their way into homes all over the world. What makes these rugs so unique and sought after? This guide will go over the history of Navajo rugs, the vibrant designs, where to buy them, and how to care for them.

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Also called a serape, this blanket was made during the tribe’s internment in eastern New Mexico in 1865. Woven in rich reds, the piece is striking as much for its color as for the bordered design. Red was extremely hard to come by then, especially by the Native Americans. Their way around this was to unravel machine made rugs, and re-weave the thread into their own designs. But this design is also rare, and shows the growing intrusion of the outside world not on just the Navajo culture, but their art as well. Notice the partial borders at the blanket’s four corners. Bordered textiles were a popular theme of the time, picked up from the detailing seen on exotic Oriental rugs. Their use here suggests the weavers had seen such rugs – though most likely through photographs – and copied the style.

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These were the most distinctive stripes among the hundred of others on the same rug. Also, the corners of Navajo rugs featured borders representing their culture, heritage, spirituality, and lifestyle. These borders displayed the stories of their lives through the small details. These rugs have a high level of durability because they are made with top quality wool and yarn. Due to their delicate construction, you should clean them by hand instead of using a washing machine.

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Early blankets made in the middle of the 1800s are rarer than others, with 50-plus examples currently known. Collectors treasure Navajo blankets because of their rarity. Many consider a fine Navajo Navajo scarf to be the cornerstone in their collection. These textiles sell for high prices because of their rarity as well as collector enthusiasm. Navajo blankets offer a visual appeal that rivals any modern art. Navajo blankets have a unique blend of balance, composition, contrast and bold stripes. The simple tools that the weavers used to create Navajo fabrics makes them all the more impressive. The looms were simple and could be set up outside, or under a tree branch.

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native american print rugs
native american print rugs

Serapes only rarely had a slit in the middle for the head which made them ponchos. Navajo weavers made both the manta and serape styles during the eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries along with shirts, dresses, breechcloths, and sashes. These early weavings made before the 1870s are very rare, bringing tens of thousands of dollars-or more-from collectors and museums. The so-called Chief’s Blanket is a specific style of manta that went through a distinct design evolution.

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This type of weaving was developed in the 1950s and involvesa special technique which results in a three dimensional effect, making araised outline on the front side. Many of the New Lands weavers come from the Coal Mine Mesa area of the Navajo Nation. These are small, loosely woven, pictorial mats meant for the tourist trade and woven in Gallup, New Mexico. They were small, inexpensive and easy to transport, making them popular souvenirs for visits to the Navajo Nation. Gentle scrubbing continues. Note the wringer in the background-the next step in the washing process after rinsing. After thorough rinsing, the rug is sent slowly and carefully through the wringer to take out as much of the water as possible before being hung on racks in the drying room.

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