Woman’s Two-Piece Dress (Biil’éé)
Unknown Artist
c. 1880–85
Medium
Wool: tapestry weave
Dimensions
145 × 99 cm
Classification
Textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Educational Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1929.921
About this artwork
According to D. Y. Begay, the contemporary Diné (Navajo) weaver, every Diné woman should own a bill’éé (dress), which holds spiritual power, confers protection, encodes stories about the aesthetic of Diné culture, and ensures her place in society. This example is made of two matching panels attached on the sides and shoulders, a type that developed from single-panel dresses in the late 1700s. Originally gathered at the waist with a woven belt, the dresses also can be cinched with silver concha b...