Chief Blanket (Second Phase) 1850 - 1865

Editor: Here we have a "Chief Blanket (Second Phase)" made between 1850 and 1865 by a Navajo (Diné) artist. It's made from wool. The geometric patterns are really striking and catch the eye immediately. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Well, looking at this blanket, I'm drawn to its materiality. Think about the labour involved in shearing the sheep, spinning the wool, dyeing it with natural pigments, and then the intensive process of weaving. Editor: It's amazing to consider all those steps. So the blanket’s value lies in more than just its visual appeal? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context: trade. These "Chief Blankets" were highly sought after. What do you imagine the trade networks looked like that allowed for both the dissemination of this object, but also access to certain materials used in their construction? Editor: I guess the presence of those materials would speak to the Diné’s relationships and economic power? It makes me wonder about what these blankets meant to them. Curator: Exactly! The materials and means of production offer a lens to view cultural exchange, social status, and the shifting economic landscape of the time. Editor: I see. Focusing on materials helps tell a story of labour, exchange, and maybe even resistance. Thanks, that gives me a completely different way of looking at it. Curator: Absolutely. Approaching art through the lens of materials always deepens our understanding of the piece itself, and the circumstances of its creation.