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A.5050 - Poncho, Shirt |
| Object Name/Descriptor |
Poncho, Shirt |
| Provenience |
North America, USA, Southwest |
| Culture/People/Style |
Navajo (Dine) |
| Period |
c. 1840 |
| Material Type(s) |
Cloth - Wool
Cloth - Thread (Cotton)
Cloth - Thread (Silk)
|
| Length (cm) |
172.0 |
| Width (cm) |
134.0 |
| Other Information |
Associated Text from the Native American Hall (1992-2006):
The earliest Navajo textiles were created for practical use as warm outerwear and sleeping blankets. A few were modeled after Spanish ponchos with central slits that allowed the garment to be worn over the head. All of the red yarn in this poncho was obtained by unraveling pieces of Spanish trade cloth, called bayeta.
Navajo Textiles
For more than three centuries Navajo weavers have adapted and extended their art to fulfill the changing expectations of the marketplace. Generations of consumers have desired their beautiful blankets, rugs, and tapestries. But Navajo textiles are much more than objects of economic value and visual delight. Because of their pivotal role in Navajo womens lives, these weavings embody many of the historical events endured by the Navajo people. The diverse colors, patterns, and uses of Navajo textiles reveal the chang-ing lives of generations of Navajo weavers. Weaving is probably the best known craft of the Navajo and is done by women; the other primary art form, silversmithing, is done mainly by men. |
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