SKINNER INC.

This rare wearing blanket was collected sometime in the late 19th century by Eliza Hosmer, who spent time in New Mexico in the 1890s. Sometime around 1932, William Claflin acquired this example from Hosmer’s niece Anne Lauriat Read, who received it as a gift. While the bulk of William Claflin’s Southwest textile collection was given to the Peabody Museum, Harvard, this example was gifted to his family, who are now consigning it to Skinner. The textile is in pristine condition and was possibly made before the Bosque Redondo episode in 1863. The serape contains Saxony yarns and handspun Churro fleece dyed with cochineal and indigo. It embodies all the characteristics of early Classic Navajo serapes, i.e. horizontal design layout, wider joined diamond bands between, and the predominate color combination of red, blue, and white. This rare example can be seen as a high point of Navajo weaving.

274 Cedar Hill Street » Marlborough, MA 01752 (508) 970-3254 » www.skinnerinc.com