Native American, Southwestern United States, Navajo, ca. mid to late 20th century CE. An incredible woven textile blanket created from handspun sheep wool. The fibers are dyed with warm red, deep black, and vibrant white hues to create broad diamond-shaped patterns, petite triangles, and larger geometric patterns. The eye dazzle design - so called for its attractive symmetry - was popular with Navajo artisans and was inspired by the traditional Mexican Saltillo serape blankets. Size: 73.5" L x 56" W (186.7 cm x 142.2 cm)

The Navajo weaving tradition starts with the deity, Spider Woman, teaching the Navajo people to weave using a fantastical loom and materials made from the earth, lightning, and sky. For the mortal Navajo, cotton was their main material for hundreds of years before the Spaniards' introduction of sheep! Weaving was not solely focused on creating a useful textile - the process of weaving reconnected the Navajo with their cosmic origins and brought the beauty if their own creations into the world. These patterns are generations old and an enduring and iconic part of the Southwestern iconography.

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: private British Columbia, Canada collection, gifted from aunt in Tucson, Arizona, USA, acquired prior to 1994

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#182724

Intact and excellent with great color retention.