In 2019听闯别苍听厂丑补苍苍辞苍, CU Museum鈥檚 Curator of Cultural Anthropology, commissioned a replica of a Navajo First Phase Chief's Blanket for the collection鈥攁 modern artwork that was created using traditional materials (Churro wool and indigo), equipment and techniques. 听
Chief鈥檚-style blankets were not used as bedding or rugs for the floor, they were worn over the shoulders. These versatile textiles could be worn in ceremony, as a warm jacket, or for sleeping on. 鈥淔irst phase鈥� refers to the earliest of these kinds of blankets, from the early to mid-1800s, with simple bands of color. Three more phases of increasingly elaborate Chief鈥檚 Blankets followed.听
鈥淐hief鈥檚 Blanket鈥� refers to who wore these weavings, beyond the Din茅, or Navajos, themselves. The Din茅 did not have chiefs, but the Ute, Cheyenne, and Plains tribes who traded for these blankets did. Navajo weavers had a reputation for fine, high quality work. The weaving was so tight that the blankets were practically waterproof and so expensive that only wealthy, high status people could afford them. These blankets were highly prized and worn by tribal leaders, especially by the Ute to the north. Sometimes First Phase blankets are also called Ute-style for this reason. 听
The weaver of this piece, Bertha Harvey, was very excited to know that it would be in our museum, and we were equally excited to include it in our famous Navajo textile collection! Thanks to Jackson Clark for connecting us to Bertha. He provides some additional information about Bertha (right) and her sister, Charlene, (left): 鈥淏ertha has been weaving since the mid-1960鈥檚. In the mornings she is the pastry chef at the Quality Inn in Window Rock, going to work at 5 in the morning. She gets home about noon and usually weaves later in the afternoon when it cools down.鈥� Her sister, Charlene, is also a weaver. The purchase of this textile helped fund Bertha鈥檚 nephew鈥檚 wedding鈥攚hat a wonderful way for our museum to be connected with this family and celebrate the traditions and contemporary lives of Navajo weavers! 听
Catalog Number: 2019.07听
Title: Replica First-Phase Chief's Blanket听
Artist: Bertha Harvey听
Date: 2019听
Culture of Manufacture: Din茅 (Navajo)听