By Donna Baldwin

With the Prescott Indian Art Market (PIAM) coming up, it is interesting to look at the evolution of Navajo weaving, which will be one of the art forms at the Market.

Navajo weaving has been documented as early as the 1700s. They used upright looms with no moving parts and wool produced by their own Navajo-Churro sheep. The unprocessed wool retained lanolin, which repelled water. Early weavings included cloaks, dresses, saddle blankets and covers for door entrances. Prior to the 19^th century, weavings primarily used natural dyes in shades of brown, gray and white.

In the late 1800s, trading posts scattered around the Southwest became the primary contact between Native Americans and whites. Goods produced by whites were bartered for handmade items, including weavings. Blankets were especially prized because of their high quality and warmth.

Arrival of the railroad in the early 1880s expanded the market for woven goods, as well as making aniline dyes in bright colors available. Tourists departing the trains at Fred Harvey Company dining rooms purchased Native American goods, especially weavings, as souvenirs. Later, when the Harvey Company opened hotels at some stops, gift shops selling and demonstrating Navajo weavings were added. 

An early trading post was Hubbell’s at Ganado, Arizona, purchased by John Lorenzo Hubbell in 1876. He acted as both merchant and liaison to the outside world for the Navajo and encouraged weaving of designs from old rug patterns that he favored. He also employed Navajos to demonstrate weaving at his trading post. Hubbell’s Trading Post still exists today as a National Historic Site.

Around that same time, Hubbell and trader J.B. Moore began marketing Navajo rugs in catalogs, attracting business from Eastern cities. They promoted development of distinctive styles, which became known as Regional rugs. There are many styles of Regional rugs, including popular ones like Two Grey Hills, Ganado Red, Storm and Eye Dazzler.

Another early trading post was at Toadlena, New Mexico, north of Gallup, established around 1897. The trader worked with weavers to develop high quality textiles utilizing hand-spun yarns in natural colors. A trademark style that developed was the Toadlena/Two Grey Hills. The post still exists today and has a museum displaying fine Navajo rugs.

Navajo weaving was typically taught by one generation to the next. For example, Nanabah Aragon, a New Mexico artist, is a third-generation weaver in her 80s. At age 8 or 9, Nanabah was taught by her mother, who in turn learned from her mother, who was weaving in the late 1800s. Their weavings are the Two Grey Hills style.

The Hubbell-Joe Rug was commissioned by Lorenzo Hubbell, Jr. in 1932 to be the “World’s Largest Navajo Rug”. It was to be an attraction at his Winslow, Arizona, trading post.  Julia Joe, from Greasewood, Arizona, was the weaver. The rug’s colors were grays, black, whites and Hubbell Ganado Red. It took over three years to complete and measured 21’4” x 32’7”. The rug was displayed nationwide from 1937 until the 1970s, when it was given to the Arizona Historical Society and put into storage for around 40 years. It was purchased by Allan Affeldt, owner of La Posada Hotel in Winslow, in 2012 and put on exhibit at La Posada in 2023.

From the weavings done in the 1700s as utilitarian articles to today’s pieces that are considered fine art, the history of weaving is a fascinating journey through time.

Saturday, September 21^st from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, September 22^nd from 9am to 4pm, Sharlot Hall Museum will host PIAM, a Native American fine arts market featuring Indigenous art, music, performances, demonstrations and more. For additional information see the online Sharlot Hall Museum Events Calendar at: sharlothallmuseum.org/event-calendar/

“Days Past” is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). This and other Days Past articles are also available at www.archives.sharlothallmuseum.org/articles/days-past-articles/1 The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles and inquiries to dayspast@sharlothallmuseum.org Please contact SHM Research Center reference desk at 928-277-2003, or via email at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org for information or assistance with photo requests”.