Chief's blanket
ca. 1865
Medium
Wool
Dimensions
56 × 66 in. (142.2 × 167.6 cm)
Classification
Blanket
Culture
Diné/Navajo
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of John and Margot Ernst, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019
Accession Number
2019.373.5
Art Historical Context
This striking Chief's Blanket, woven around 1865 by an unidentified Diné (Navajo) artist, exemplifies the rich textile of the American Southwest. Measuring 56 by 66 inches and crafted from wool, the piece was created on a traditional upright loom using techniques passed down through generations. Its bold geometric patterns and balanced proportions reflect the sophisticated design sense central to Navajo weaving, where each blanket served both practical and symbolic purposes. In Diné culture, such blankets—often called "chief's blankets"—were highly valued trade goods and markers of status, wo...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –