Saddle or Child's Blanket
1 of 2
Object Label
The Navajo wove waterproof wool blankets such as this small version, probably made for a child or as a saddle blanket. 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, non-Native red flannel to create new designs with colorful details, as seen here. During captivity, weaving 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.
Caption
Navajo. Saddle or Child's Blanket, 1875–1880. Wool, dye, 30 x 51in. (76.2 x 129.5cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 50.67.52. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 50.67.52_PS5.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Saddle or Child's Blanket
Date
1875–1880
Medium
Wool, dye
Classification
Dimensions
30 x 51in. (76.2 x 129.5cm)
Credit Line
Henry L. Batterman Fund and the Frank Sherman Benson Fund
Accession Number
50.67.52
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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