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AMAZING HISTORIC NAVAJO TRANSITIONAL EYEDAZZLER BLANKET, COMPLEX DESIGNS, C1885

$ 1320

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Provenance: Ownership History Not Available
  • Modified Item: No
  • Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
  • Condition: Good original and unrestored, “as found” condition. Areas of wool loss on one end. Colors equally intense on both sides. Yellow shows uneven fading, probably not so much because of sunlight but because it may be a type of fugitive dye. This is a case where the rarity and artwork of the weaving allows for an upgrade from average to good category. *See condition statement below.
  • Origin: SW United States
  • Artisan: Unknown

    Description

    AMAZING HISTORIC NAVAJO TRANSITIONAL EYEDAZZLER BLANKET, COMPLEX DESIGNS, C1885
    This is the exact type of thing that would have fit beautifully into the HIRSCHL & ADLER FOLK, NEW YORK exhibit back in 1989.  In their exhibit EYEDAZZLERS,
    Navajo Weavings and Contemporary Counterparts,
    guest curator Tyrone Campbell writes: “with the introduction of the railroad in the 1880s and the availability of new, colorful aniline dyes, there was an explosion of color and complexity of design - ‘eyedazzling’ in visual effect - previously unseen in earlier Navajo weavings”.
    The example I am selling may have been made by the same Navajo artist who wove FIGURE 4 in the catalogue of the above mentioned show.  If interested, please let me know and I will send a pic of that example for comparison.
    Measures approximately 50” x 76”.  Circa 1885.  *Good condition (see condition statement below).  Fresh to the marketplace.
    IN
    an effort to assist Buyers with understanding the way I describe the condition of Navajo weavings that I’m selling on ebay, I spoke with Navajo textile author and expert Tyrone Campbell about his ‘Classification Categories for Condition’ that he first published in his NEWSLETTER in 1981.
    After discussing with him that we may have to tweak it a bit because its been 40 years since it was originally comprised and has gotten nearly impossible to find weavings in excellent, let alone mint condition these days, I concluded, what the hell, why mess with a good thing.  It’s a standard worth sticking to!  So here it is as originally written (and with permission to reprint from Tyrone, July 2020).
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    “CLASSIFICATION
    CATEGORIES
    FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL CONDITION
    FRAGMENT:           Any portion of an entire weaving.
    DETERIORATED:  Heavily damaged, warps exposed, selvage missing, large holes, serious fading or running, corners or areas missing.
    AVERAGE:               Shows floor wear or small holes, some selvage damage, very minor bleeding, etc.
    GOOD:                      Above average classification may still show use, but not broken warps.  In some cases a very small hole or two or a minor selvage break or two is acceptable.
    EXCELLENT:           No holes, no bleeding or fading, no exposed warps or serious selvage damage.
    MINT:                        This classification means that the textile is in pristine condition.
    NOTE:  In the case of rare weavings we will up-grade the condition classification from Average to Good or from Good to Excellent, but in no case to Mint or from Deteriorated to Average condition.”
    From THE TYRONE D. CAMPBELL NEWSLETTER, Published at Albuquerque, N.M., 1981.
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    Everything guaranteed as stated. Shipping includes full insurance. Please check out my many other quality auctions. Ask questions if you have them. Thank you!