Exceptional Navajo Sunday Saddle Blanket

Sunday Saddle Blankets: The Artistic Legacy of Diné Weavers

The "Sunday Saddle Blankets," meticulously crafted by the Diné women weavers of the Navajo Nation, are a testament to their artistic prowess and cultural heritage. These blankets, distinguished by their elaborate and intricate designs, are named for their association with special occasions, akin to wearing one's Sunday best.

Often, a Sunday Saddle Blanket is layered over a more utilitarian one. This arrangement serves a dual purpose: the lower blanket absorbs the horse's sweat, thereby preserving the ornate Sunday blanket from wear and tear.

Unlike typical saddle blankets, Sunday Saddle Blankets are not designed to be folded over for use on a horse. Instead, they are intended to be displayed in their full glory, unfurled and open. Whether draped over a traditional saddle blanket for ceremonial events or exhibited on a wall, these blankets transcend their functional origins to become standalone works of art.

Their uniform size further emphasizes their artistic nature, allowing the viewer to appreciate the full extent of the weavers' skill and creativity. The Sunday Saddle Blankets, therefore, serve not only as a testament to the Diné women weavers' artistic abilities but also as a vibrant thread in the rich tapestry of Navajo Nation's cultural legacy.

To quote Lane Coulter, author of Navajo Saddle Blankets: Textiles to Ride in the American Southwest:

"Navajo saddle blankets are among the most underappreciated art forms in the American Southwest, the Cinderella of Navajo textiles. Saddle blankets have played a key role in Navajo life both as utilitarian objects and as a force in the economic sustainability of modern Navajo life. They represent a material link between Navajo weavers and traders. This modest textile has found a context in the cattle industry, inside rural cabins, on the floors of eastern bungalows, on the walls of art museums, and even on horseback. It has served countless cultural and utilitarian demands placed on it over the last century and a half, with no sunset in sight." [Coulter, 2002]

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Exceptional Navajo Sunday Saddle Blanket is from the collection of a client from California

Reference: Coulter, Lane. Navajo Saddle Blankets: Textiles to Ride in the American West, Museum of New Mexico Press, 2002

TAGS: textiles, Navajo Nation