February 20th, Banded Blankets

There is a word in Diné, diyugi, which has been translated as “fluffy” or “soft,” but which is commonly used to reference a type of weaving, the everyday blanket. In this collection, we present a group of banded blankets of both Pueblo and Navajo origin.

While there are certain characteristics associated with either weaving tradition, we are focusing on the commonalities rather than the differences. These blankets are made of softly woven, handspun wool, and find patterns in compound stripes, using the limited range of dyes available at that time period. This collection dates from the waning of the 19th century, and harkens to the moments of everyday life encapsulated by these objects.

In terms of design, they speak to a different sensibility, to an appreciation of a simplicity of form, with a celebration of negative space. The very fact that these blankets have survived for more than a century attests to the fact that while they were everyday objects, they are anything but ordinary.