Navajo Blankets & Rugs
Navajo rugs and blankets (Navajo: diyogí) are textiles produced by Navajo people of the Four Corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for over 150 years. Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the Navajo economy. As one expert expresses it, "Classic Navajo serapes at their finest equal the delicacy and sophistication of any pre-mechanical loom-woven textile in the world."
Navajo textiles were originally utilitarian blankets for use as cloaks, dresses, saddle blankets, and similar purposes. Toward the end of the 19th century, weavers began to make rugs for tourism and export. Typical Navajo textiles have strong geometric patterns. They are a flat tapestry-woven textile produced in a fashion similar to kilims of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, but with some notable differences. In Navajo weaving, the slit weave technique common in kilims is not used, and the warp is one continuous length of yarn, not extending beyond the weaving as fringe. Traders from the late 19th and early 20th century encouraged adoption of some kilim motifs into Navajo designs.
By Types
editChief Blanket
editFirst phase (1800-1850)
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, 1840-1860Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1850Wearing Blanket
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas. -
, circa 1850Bayeta Wearing Blanket
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
Second phase (1810-1870)
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, 1855-1860Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York -
, circa 1855Wearing Blanket
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas -
, circa 1850Wearing Blanket
Art Institute Chicago
Third phase (1860-1880)
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, circa 1865Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, 1865-1870Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1880Wearing Blanket
Art Institute Chicago -
, circa 1880Wearing Blanket
Art Institute Chicago
Fourth phase (1870-1900)
editBlankets
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, circa 1865Wearing blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, 1860-70Wearing blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1870Wearing blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1880Banded wearing blanket
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland -
, 1875Wearing blanket
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland -
, 1860-70Wearing blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, 1865-75Navajo or Pueblo (Zuni) wearing blanket with Moki (Moqui) Stripes
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland -
, circa late 19 centuryWearing blanket
Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit. -
, circa 1870Wearing blanket
Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit. -
, 1860-1870Saddle blanket
Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit.
Serapes
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, 1840-1850Serape
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1865Serape
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1865Serape
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Woman Blankets
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, 1870Second Phase Woman's Wearing Blanket
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland -
, 1875-1880Third phase woman Blanket
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas -
, 1885-1900Woman Blanket
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas
Child Blankets
editSaddle Blankets
editRugs
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, 1890Rug
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland -
, 1895-1905Rug (Woman's Wearing Blanket Style)
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland
By Styles
editChief Blanket
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, 1840-1860First Phase Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, 1855-1860Second Phase Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, 1865-1870Third Phase Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
, circa 1865Fourth Phase Wearing Blanket
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Ganado
editKlagetoh
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, circa 1930Klagetoh Rug
Palm Springs Art Museum
Two Grey Hills
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