Bí ní ghá dzí ít ó ní / Poncho style Navajo Serape / sarape

Dateca. 1850

MediumWool (animal fiber), indigo,raveled wool yarn, cochineal or lac

Dimensions67 3/8 x 54 in. (171.1 x 137.2 cm)

ClassificationsTextile, Fiber Arts, & Beadwork

Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Dr. Bainbridge Bunting

Object numberPC1974.111.1

DescriptionA poncho style Navajo serape / sarape with center slit, stripes, zigzags, terraced diamonds. Red, white & light/dark blue terraced diamond pattern with large central diamond & quarter diamonds in each corner. Center slit for head. Style adapted from Saltillo serapes/ponchos of the early-mid 1800s. Only 1 of 2 in the state according to Marian Rodee (2001.)

Made of natural handspun beige wool, handspun blue indigo, raveled yarn w/ cochineal and/or lac dye, natural wool. Red is paired, 1-ply S-twist raveled cochineal-dyed wool, commercial bayeta. S-twist of bayeta indicates manufacture of 1825-1865 likely (Whittaker.) Blue is 1-ply handspun indigo-dyed wool. White is 1-ply handspun natural wool. Corners are light blue, red throughout the beige wool. Tapestry joins interlock the weft (indicating before 1860). Ends are 3 ply, S ply, Z spun.

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