Weavings of the Diné

[Ravenscry]

In addition to Navajo silver and turquoise, another form of Southwest art that has my full appreciation is that crafted by the weaver. While there have been multiple conversations concerning specific examples on this forum, I wanted to create a dedicated space for the discussion, appreciation, and sharing of this wonderful craft embodying form and function.

Let this thread serve as a place to share weavings that you own, ones you’ve admired or lust after, and their general discussion.

@Jason put together the following thread years ago, and I’m thankful for it!

Styles of Navajo Weavings

Not to long ago you drove across the Navajo Reservation and could find a Trading Post in each community, or just out in the middle of nowhere. Today, you find lots of vacant buildings with only a handful of Posts left, and most of those are more of convenient stores than places you would find art. Rugs used to be defined by the area they came from. Classics like Ganado Reds, Two Grey Hills, Wide Ruins, and Teec Nos Pos all had a defined style. You still have rugs that are made in the same style…

I’ll kick this off with my absolute favorite Navajo weaving that I’ve yet to lay eyes on, and I lay eyes on it often…

Navajo, natural bouble saddle blanket with painted thunderbird, ca. 1920, 52" x 34 1/2"

I was going to add the following Yei-bi-chai pictorial weaving to the Turquoise Artwork thread, but thought it would be fun to start this thread and share it here.

Navajo, 32" x 47 1/2", affixed with original Palm’s Trading tag inscribed with the weaver’s name, Elizabeth Christine, Farmington, NM.

Another Yei weaving I admire. I’ve shared this previously, but feel it belongs here as well. This was displayed at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, IN upon my last visit.

I look forward to seeing what everyone shares and learning from the discussions that could arise!

[TAH]

Great idea for a thread, Aaron! Along with silver, Navajo weavings and Hopi kachinas are my favorites. The examples you shared above are beauties, especially the saddle blanket.

This thread reminds me of the gallery, Tres Estrellas Taos, who specialize in antique Navajo weavings. I’ve been to the gallery twice and the owner, Chris Ferguson, couldn’t be more friendly and passionate about his work. Here are a couple of photos I took in one of the rooms.

Chris was the model for a photo shoot he did for the gallery.

[Ravenscry]

Thanks, Tom!

Tres Estrellas Taos looks like an absolutely stunning gallery. The manner in which Mr. Ferguson has got the weavings modeled on the mannequins reminds me of listening to Mark Winter being interviewed and his discussing of how he wanted to display his saltillo serapes and Rio Grandes in the same fashion in one of his early shows, as he was out of wall space and felt what better way to display them than how they’re intended to be worn.

Everything about Chris Ferguson’s displays are lovely. The early silver really sets everything off!

The photos that he modeled for are stunning, he definitely nailed the look. They look like period photographs.

Thanks so much for sharing all of this, Tom, this was an absolute joy to read and your pictures are icing on the cake!

[StevesTrail]

@Ravenscry, check out my antique serapes:

Blankets Anyone? Mexican or NA?

Now for a couple of blankets stored in trunks c1880 - post WWI. They look Mexican to me. They were wrapped in old stiff paper only marked “Indian blankets”. [IMG_0065] [IMG_0064]

[Ravenscry]

@StevesTrail, these are beautiful! Thank you for linking your thread, I should have done that in the opening post. These are awesome examples of classic, saltillo serapes.

I know its been a couple years, but you mentioned they were stored in trunks, would you mind sharing that story? Were they bonus finds?

Thanks again for sharing!

[StevesTrail]

Not much of a story. They were originally part of a Texas estate. They never threw anything away. Just trucked it around the country. The last of the line passed away and the estate was sold off. I bought them wrapped sight unseen just for the “Indian Blanket” written on the paper.

[Ravenscry]

Thanks for sharing, Steve. It’s neat to know. Your gamble paid off, I’d say!

[TAH]

The Tree Room at Sundance is one of the public areas into which Robert Redford’s collection has spilled over. A prize piece is the large Navajo weaving, circa 1930, from the Pinon area, which covers the restaurant’s back wall.

[Ziacat]

I saw this online, and fell in love with it. The detail and variety of the birds is amazing! I am bit of a bird watcher, so it really impressed me (besides the fact that it’s beautifully woven).

[Ravenscry]

Awesome addition, Tom. I really like the dyes used in that monstrous weaving, the pattern is intriguing as well. Thank you for sharing!

[Ravenscry]

@Ziacat

The detail and variety of the birds is amazing! I am bit of a bird watcher, so it really impressed me

It definitley is, Zia! The tree’s branches are tastefully done and I like the little fences!

I enjoy watching birds as well, especially hawks and bald eagles.

[here4turquoise]

That’s a beautiful round rug. We looked at a couple but went with a traditional one.