Vintage Rio Grande Blanket of Northern New Mexico [SOLD]

This is a hand woven blanket from a Northern New Mexico weaver, generally of Hispanic culture. Such blankets vary in weaving style from Navajo blankets in that Navajo blankets are woven on an upright loom and Hispanic blankets on a horizontal loom. Wide blankets like this are woven in two narrower strips then stitched together. It is a difficult process to weave two identical blankets and have them in precise alignment when stitched together. This blanket is perfectly matched. It dates to circa 1890.

Northern Rio Grande blankets designs are woven in horizontal bands as this blanket illustrates. It was woven from wool of Churro sheep, a sheep introduced to the new world by Spanish explorers in the 1600s. This blanket is a gorgeous blend of gray, red, yellow, and brown yarn. The pattern is in three sections: both ends have red in the bands and the center third is devoid of red. The two blanket halves are stitched together down the middle of the blanket.

The Spanish who came to New Mexico in the late 1500s came with a sophisticated textile tradition. They brought with them the traditional horizontal treadle loom. Its continuous warp allows for a near endless length of yardage. They discovered that the pueblo people were weaving clothing from cotton.

By 1800, the Spaniards were weaving with wool but it was more a cottage industry than an economic factor. The Spanish government in Mexico recognized the potential of weaving as an economic benefit so it commissioned the Bazán brothers — Ygnacio Ricardo and Juan — residents of Puebla, Mexico, to go to Nuevo Mexico to teach weaving. Ygnacio had two young sons, so the four Bazán males were provided with two horses, three pack mules, a guide, two blunderbusses, two sabers and a musket for the trip up the Camino Real to Santa Fe, the City of the Holy Faith.

The high esteem regarded the weavers in Mexico was evident in the commission contract with words like "Artisan," "Art" and "Weaver" capitalized. Ygnacio was referred to as Maestro and Juan as oficia. The Bazáns were successful in teaching the villagers. Ygnacio stayed in New Mexico after his official duties ended. From this beginning developed the "Rio Grande Blanket."

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Vintage Rio Grande Blanket of Northern New Mexico is from a client of Adobe Gallery

Reference and Recommended Reading: Rio Grande Blankets - Late Nineteenth-Century Textiles in Transition by Kellen Kee McIntyre. Publisher: Adobe Gallery, 1992

TAG: Hispanic Textiles, Navajo Textiles