Blanket or Rug

Art Historical Context

This stunning Navajo blanket or rug, by Diné artists around 1900, exemplifies the of Indigenous textile traditions in the American Southwest. Measuring an impressive 308 × 157.5 cm, it served practical purposes as bedding or flooring while doubling as a canvas for cultural expression. By the early 20th century, Navajo weavers had adapted their craft for both personal use and trade, blending utility with artistry amid growing interactions with Anglo-American markets. Crafted from wool using the dovetailed tapestry weave—a signature Navajo technique where wefts interlock precisely at color boun...