Navajo. Chief's Blanket, 1875–1880. Wool, dye, 43 x 56in. (109.2 x 142.2cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.45. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 50.67.45_PS5.jpg)
Navajo. Chief's Blanket, 1875–1880. Wool, dye, 43 x 56in. (109.2 x 142.2cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.45. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 50.67.45_glass_bw.jpg)
Chief's Blanket
Arts of the Americas
The Navajo wove waterproof, striped wool blankets that became known as Chief Blankets and traded them to other tribes. In 1863 the U.S. Army forcibly removed the Navajo from Arizona to Bosque Redondo detention camp in New Mexico and killed the tribe’s churro sheep. Ingenious weavers combined commercial wool with unraveled army blankets to create new designs with colorful details, as seen here. During captivity, weavings became the primary source of income.
In 1868 the Navajo returned to their homelands, and weaving flourished with the advent of the railroad and the establishment of trading posts.
In 1868 the Navajo returned to their homelands, and weaving flourished with the advent of the railroad and the establishment of trading posts.
CULTURE
Navajo
MEDIUM
Wool, dye
DATES
1875–1880
DIMENSIONS
43 x 56in. (109.2 x 142.2cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
50.67.45
CREDIT LINE
Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1848, provenance not yet documented; by 1848, acquired by Nathan Sturges Jarvis; 1848, gift of Nathan Sturges Jarvis to the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY; 1937, loaned by the New-York Historical Society to the Brooklyn Museum; 1950, purchased from the New-York Historical Society by the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Navajo. Chief's Blanket, 1875–1880. Wool, dye, 43 x 56in. (109.2 x 142.2cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.45. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 50.67.45_PS5.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 50.67.45_PS5.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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