It’s All About the Rugs
Textile Analysis: Counting Warps and Wefts
One of the ways to gauge the quality of a textile is to count the threads in an inch of weaving. The more threads per inch, the finer the cloth. Anyone who has ever slept on 800 count sheets knows how much difference this can make. In Navajo pieces, both the warps and wefts are…
Read MoreYe’i and Ye’i Bi Chei Weavings
Above: A 1950’s handspun Shiprock Ye’i dyed with vegetal and aniline colors People who aren’t familiar with Navajo weaving often confuse Ye’i and Ye’i Bi Chei weavings. The Ye’i design depicts the Diyiin Diné’é (Holy People) directly and they are always shown facing the viewer and are often surrounded on three sides by a Rainbow…
Read MoreAn Early Ye’i Bi Chei Weaving
The handsome weaving above was offered at the Smoki Museum Navajo rug auction last weekend. It’s the earliest depiction of a Ye’i Bi Chei dancer that I’ve seen and I thought you might enjoy a look at it too. It dates to the late 1890’s or early 1900’s and is done in the style of…
Read MoreRugs from the Smoki Auction
I’ve sold quite a few rugs recently and I needed to replace them for some upcoming classes that I’m coordinating for Jennie Slick. We try to have as many examples as possible for students to look at and handle and when they’re sold, it makes room for more examples. I do prefer to buy new…
Read MoreFine Weaves: An 1880’s Germantown Blanket
This blanket dates to the 1880’s and was in an attic in St. John’s, Arizona. The three ply Germantown yarns used date it to the 1880’s and the blanket definitely shows it’s relationship to Rio Grande blankets as well as to Chief blankets. Germantown yarns were spun in Germantown, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia and were supplied…
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