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’Ak’idahi’niłí (Saddle blanket- Diné)

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Maker Once Known, Diné (Navajo) People (Southwestern USA)
’Ak’idahi’niłí (20th century)
wool, acrylic, acid dye
146.0 x 84.0 cm
The Greenfield Collection in memory of Myrtle Greenfield (1884-1967) Albuquerque, New Mexico, given by Robert E. and Mary Frances Greenfield
84-182

This is an ’Ak’idahi’niłí or saddle blanket. As discussed in this Arizona State Museum exhibition, Navajo (Diné) weavers produced a range of saddle blankets and small rugs for equestrian uses in the 20th century. Pieces of this size would be double saddle blankets, and were intended to be folded in half. The exhibit also states, "Navajo weavers favored twill weave to create saddle blankets, maybe because it is stronger and thicker, but also perhaps because of the rich diagonal and diamond patterning that this structure creates. These blankets continued in Native use long after handwoven garments became obsolete and at the same time became a popular buyer's item for ranch and home use."

Tyrrell Tapaha and Sháńdíín Brown examined this ’Ak’idahi’niłí during their visit as the Textile Photography Project was ongoing. This is a twill saddle blanket with two wool and two black acrylic tassels (likely a repair) on one end, and a solid plain stripe in center of blanket and at each end. Tyrrell shared that this pattern is called 'Hozdodii' in Navajo. And as a weaver who dyes their own materials routinely, Tyrrell also pointed out the combination of natural and acid dyed (dark brown) wool in this piece. When Sháńdíín pointed out a section of purple in the weaving (look for a purplish stripe roughly in the center of the left half of the blanket photo at the top of the page), Tyrrell talked about how dyes take differently sometimes during the dying process. In her exhibition of Diné weaving at RISD, Sháńdíín also featured an ’Ak’idahi’niłí, highlighting the ways that these were both objects of utility and decorative apparel for horses (and their riders).

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