Navajo Pictorial Weaving 1880-1950: Folk Art Images of Native Americans

First published in 1991, this is the most definitive survey of Navajo pictorial weaving available; it comprises over 170 examples selected form hundreds of museum and private collections as well as from major dealers in the field. Although the history of Navajo weaving has been well documented in general, most interest by previous scholars has been in the geometric and nonrepresentational rugs and blankets that are much more common. Even though pictorials make up only about one percent of all Navajo weavings, they are a rich source of information about Navajo ranching and farming societies and about Navajo depictions of Anglo customs and technology. Thanks to this book, Navajo pictorials can take their rightful place as an important category not only in Navajo weaving but in the history of American folk art and Native American arts and crafts as well.