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A.8781.66-30 - Rug |
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Catalog Number: A.8781.66-30
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| Object Name/Descriptor |
Rug |
| Provenience |
North America, USA, Southwest |
| Culture/People/Style |
Navajo (Dine) |
| Period |
c. 1940 |
| Date Collected |
c. 1950 |
| Date Accessioned |
December, 1966 |
| Material Type(s) |
Cloth - Wool
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| Length (cm) |
159.7 |
| Width (cm) |
95.4 |
| Other Information |
Associated Text from the Native American Hall (1992-2006):
hinle Revival Style
Cozy McSparron, owner of the trading post at Chinle, Arizona, and Mary Cabot Wheelright also sought to improve Navajo weaving. McSparron and Wheelright assisted the weavers in upgrading the quality of their wool. They also encouraged a return to more classic patterns without borders and the use of natural dyes.
Tapestries for Collectors
"Ive been weaving since I was thirteen. I never got into the job market. It seems that all my life Ive been weaving. Its nice to work at home because I dont need a baby¬sitter. When I finish one rug, I always start another one."
- La Verne Barber, Burnham, New Mexico
Navajo textile production declined over much of the mid-1900s. In the 1960s, a nationwide resurgence of interest in Indian arts stimulated the market for Navajo textiles. This new market was increasingly fed by wealthy collectors. Contemporary weavers responded by producing exquisite tapestries. No longer weaving anonymously, many women developed international reputations.
While age, skill, interest, and incentive vary enormously, weaving is still centered around daily routines in Navajo households. Integral to Navajo womens lives for centuries, weaving continues to be a powerful cultural identifier. |
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