Navaho Indians probably adopted the art of weaving from captive Pueblo women in the early eighteenth century. They soon outstripped their teachers in the skill and quality of their work and today Navaho blankets, rugs and other items are known all over the world.
In this profoundly illustrated, first in-depth study of the technical aspects of Navaho weaving, the author summarizes the long career of the loom and its prototypes in the prehistoric Southwest, describes and illustrates in detail the various weaves used by the Navaho and analyzes the manufacture of their native dyes. Supplemented with over 230 illustrations, including more than 100 excellent photographs of authentically dated blankets, this rich history offers superb pictorial documentation and exhaustive coverage of one of our finest native crafts.