The Diné [Navajo] weaver of this 1920-1930s, 2 panel saddle blanket had great artistic vision:  creating awesome abstract art with 2 different fields [panels], and dramatically outlining both with bold red & black borders.  For me the top panel of a natural grey field seems to simulate the dramatic mesa landscape of the Navajo Nation! Was it the weaver’s intent to weave the natural grey wool variegations into patterns creating a delightful pictorial landscape?  Of course, we don’t know; but that’s how her awesome weaving ‘speaks’ to me.

Her creative spirit did not end there.  On the bottom panel she created a stunning abstract art panel by overlaying a bold black & red-outlined white rectangle onto the plain grey field.  Wow, talk about great abstract art!  
In effect, 90+ years ago, she created an amazing abstract art ‘diptych’ textile!  This 90+ year old Diné original art now makes superb, stunning wall art, while providing a ‘window’ into Diné history and culture!

DIMENSIONS:  approximating 35 x 54”, with very minor variation in length—it is 53.5” long on one side & 54” long on the other side.

CONDITION:  professionally cleaned; minor selvedge breaks were repaired.  No fade; no dye bleed; no moth damage; no toxic moth treatments; no odors of tobacco, chemicals, fragrance; no mold.  We are: non-smokers; we do NOT use chemical moth repellants. Our house is MOLD-free, fragrance-free, chemical-free, Covid-free.
Color variations.  Variations in the weaving’s plain grey center field are due to natural variegation in the grey sheep wool.  I believe the weaver purposely chose certain variations to create a more interesting design.  To me, those variations in color and weaving pattern are a wonderful reminder of the mesa landscape that is so distinctive in the Navajo Nation and surrounding region!  There also are some variations in color of the black outer border—those also are due to color variation in the natural black sheep wool.
We love and admire antique Navajo weavings for their awesome beauty and for their unique artistic vision & creativity--they 'move' us spiritually, aesthetically and emotionally.  They provide a ‘window’ into Diné history and culture.  And we are awed in knowing their creation requires hundreds & even thousands of hours of dedicated hand labor using knowledge and skills inherited from Diné ancestors.

Materials:  hand-spun Navajo sheep wool.   Warps: 8-9/inch; natural white wool.  Wefts:  36/inch; natural white, variegated grey, variegated black, & synthetic-dyed red .  Selvedge cords: natural grey wool. Tassels: synthetic-dyed orange.
Written Authenticity Guarantee:  Navajo hand-woven double saddle blanket, c.1920-30; approximating 35 x 54”.  Hand-spun Navajo sheep wool.  Warps: 8-9/inch of natural white wool.  Wefts: 36 weft/inch; natural white, variegated grey, variegated black, & synthetic-dyed red.  Selvedge cords: natural grey.  Tassels: synthetic-dyed orange.
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