Navajo Child's Blanket Collection, circa 1865-1880

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Navajo Child's Blanket Collection, circa 1865-1880

About the Item

Shiprock Santa Fe is pleased to offer a rare opportunity for the discerning collector; a significant collection of late Classic Navajo child’s blankets. The rarest and most sought after of native American weaving, the child’s blanket shares many characteristics of form and design with full size weavings of the same period, but was done on a smaller, and finer scale. Few were made and fewer survive. Navajo children of this period dressed as miniature adults. For ceremonies, children would have worn traditional clothing, turquoise and silver jewelry, and a wearing blanket. Wearing blankets were meant to stand out; the wearer would want to be seen from a distance, and be immediately recognizable. It is a testament to a mother’s love and pride as a weaver that the most lavish skill was employed not in making a trade item but in creating a weaving that would envelop a beloved child. The six blankets in this group date from between 1865 and 1880, and were woven by unknown Navajo women. The items in this collection are made from a variety of handspun and raveled wool, and employ both natural and aniline dyes. Indigo blue is a natural dye that was rarely used past the turn of the 20th century. Cochineal and lac are especially uncommon, because Navajo weavers would have to ravel the material from previously woven trade blankets or get skeins of dyed red wool in trade. This unique group is the result of years of collecting and represents a museum caliber collection. Examples of child’s blankets can be seen in major native American museum art collections including the Nelson Atkins in Kansas city, mo., the Denver Art museum, Denver, co., and the Field museum in Chicago, Il., the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY., and more. All items in this collection can be purchased individually upon inquiry.

Dimensions:
Height: 56 in (142.24 cm)Width: 33 in (83.82 cm)Depth: 0.13 in (3.31 mm)
Sold As:
Set of 6
Style:
Navajo (In the Style Of)
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1865
Condition:
Seller Location:
Santa Fe, NM
Reference Number:
Seller: sor5253,hor5185,por5200p,ror5205,gor5347c1stDibs: LU115126103463