Navajo blankets to Navajo rugs history
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Conceivably the most important trait of the Navajo people and their contribution to Native American Indian blankets history and art, is the flexibility and ingenuity with which they undertake new ideas and new technologies.

Navajo blankets weaving probably developed in the seventeenth century, borrowed in part from Native American Pueblo Indian weavers and in part from Spanish colonial sources. Slaving by Spanish colonists was a customary practice; and Navajos, who lived in remote extended family groups, rather than densely inhabited villages, were particularly vulnerable to slave traders. Spanish historical records specifically mention the value of Navajo women, because of their quick proficiency and great competence with the Spanish loom.

Southwest Pueblo Indians also suffered greatly under Spanish rule, which ultimately led to the great Pueblo Revolt of 1680, whereby the Spanish were driven from the territory. Fearing retaliation, many Pueblo Indians joined their Navajo neighbors; and southwest Indian art, culture and technology exchanges, introduced the Navajo to Pueblo Native American Indian blankets weaving skills.

The earliest known Navajo blankets and weavings resembled the Pueblo Native American Indian blankets of the time, and were fashioned of plain stripes, and twill weaves, resulting in a diagonally ribbed effect. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Navajo weavers crafted broader than long mantas using natural wool colors, indigo, and a few vegetal dyes. Mantas were shawl-like Indian blankets, used as a piece of clothing, and also identified with their Pueblo neighbors. The Navajo weavers obtained unraveled red yarns from commercial trade fabrics, such as bayeta; and included these yarns in their Native American Indian blankets. Originally from England, bayeta was available to the southwest Indians in vast quantities, through traders.

The Classic Period continued from 1700 until 1863. By the 1820s, Navajo blankets and weavings had become a very much sought after art. Navajo Native American Indian blankets grew to be a widespread trade item with both the Spanish and Americans, as well as other Indian tribes. Navajo blankets and weavings were regarded as finer quality Native American Indian blankets, and higher quality than pieces woven on the European style horizontal looms. As far away as the Plains, other Indian tribes used and wore Navajo Indian blankets and weavings. By 1850, beginning the Late Classic Period, more brightly colored commercial yarns became available, and patterns in Navajo blankets and weavings became increasingly more colorful and intricate. Although Navajos wove several styles of Native American blankets or mantas during the Classic Period; undoubtedly the best known is the Navajo Chief Blanket, which was a striped shoulder blanket widely traded among Indians of that time. By the end of the Classic Period, Navajo blankets and weavings were invariable longer than wide, and vertical in design arrangement. The Spanish poncho serape motifs probably influenced the Navajo weavers in this direction.

Navajo blankets, rugs and weavings history - page 2

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