u/StephenPHXAZ-2025

Just a few spring views from north of Carefree Arizona. The slight glow around the vegetation along the left edge of the first was from the headlights of a car that came around a bend at an inconvenient moment. The third is a bit too bright but I still like the overall effect. I had been taking photos elsewhere and mistimed heading over to that location. The glow in the center is the rising moon. Yes, I could process it more aggressively, but I am not into art shots.

Excuse the long post but this is intended to be explanatory. If you do not like long posts without a TLDR section move on.

Both of these are examples of later 19th century Navajo “Sunday” saddle blankets. I am posting since they demonstrate some of the diversity in types in early (meaning genuinely antique) Navajo weaving.  The first is derived from what people call chief’s blanket design elements. Like lazy lines (actually section lines), the term is actually rather offensive since the Navajo did not have chiefs, but the label has stuck. It is a classic third phase design that would fall between 1860 and 1880 and speaks to a heritage that often emphasized bold/dominant reds and blacks. The saddle blanket was woven from hand carded/hand spun/hand dyed Navajo churro wool. The second is still 19th century but probably 1880 to 1890.  It has a far more complicated design courtesy of use of fine Germantown commercial wool (literally from Germantown, Pennsylvania before anyone asks). The finely spun wool allowed for far more precise and intricate patterns. They originate within a decade or two and were also probably woven not too far from each other, yet they are as different as night and day.

I am really just posting for anyone who might have an interest.  Yes, there are typical Navajo styles you find across the Navajo Nation, some regional styles everyone knows, and usually a Navajo cultural emphasis on balance in weavings. Diversity of design though should also be viewed as a defining characteristic. Do not assume that everything that is Navajo has to look a certain way. Styles evolved (often rapidly but in other cases in single chapters before spreading out) and even in the 19th century weavers were adapting styles they saw and experimenting with new ones. Simply put, it is the structure of the weave and overall language that define, not simple types.

I have intervened a couple times recently where people were being led to sell valuable antiques for pennies on the dollar because someone told them they were Mexican or just common rugs.  While not everything is extremely valuable, always look for a balance of Navajo attributes in the weave when buying (not one design) and when selling never believe the person with the one line blow off of “its Mexican” or “the Navajo only made X, Y, or Z” or the latest offensive references to "pound rugs" on Facebook. If a Navajo weaver saw something, they could weave it - a reality that continues to the present day. I will post images of few wearing blankets that demonstrate the same from the 19th century when I have a chance but these were handy. BTW, if you do have a question about something, feel free to drop me a note. I do not do valuations but will help with IDs and never give one-line answers. I am an archaeologist who has worked across the region for the better part of three decades, and a material culture expert with an equally long interest in native southwestern pottery and rugs/weavings.

This is both an interesting and amusing antique Navajo double saddle blanket (60 in X 30 in). The amusing part is the fact I actually did not pay for it. I purchased something from an online auction (a couple pieces of old Native American pottery) and the seller wrapped them in this for protection. I can only assume they thought it was Mexican and worthless. If so, they were not very bright but that is their problem, not mine. It is Navajo - this is easily enough to tell since it has several section lines, Navajo style selvage, and continuous wool warp. The wool is also very soft. hand carded/hand spun. churro. The fact it is antique is the overall design. Simple railroad band saddle blankets tend to be initially dated to the 1940s -1850s. The fact that the red bands are bracketed by multiple grey bands is a callback to blanket designs of the 19th century and would place this between 1890 and 1930. Given the level of refinement (straightness of the edges) and style of edge treatment, I would say 1920s would be the conservative choice.

The interesting part is the fact the continuous wool warp is not a natural cream color or white. It is the same grey wool used in the design (you can see it peeking through in a few spots along the selvage. This tends to suggest it was a "single fleece" weaving for utilitarian use. Single fleece does not mean a literal single fleece but rather use of a single flock/local source, rather than purchasing the preferred white/cream for the warp. That would also explain why it is quite soft. They were literally making it as their saddle blanket, or for someone they knew, so it was meant for use rather than show. BTW, the only dyed wool is the red. Both the white/cream and the grey are undyed churro wool.