Navajo Wearing Blankets

January 16, 2015 - April 5, 2015 

West Galleries

This exhibition featured Navajo wearing blankets from the Museum’s collection, dating from the early 19th to late 20th century. By the early 1800s these blankets were valuable trade items, and for this reason became known as “Chief blankets.” Navajo wearing blankets are categorized into phases, according to their design elements and when they were woven. With many variations within the phases, wearing blankets are wider than they are long, and were worn over the shoulder by both men and women.