The so-called trade blanket has a long history in North America. Before Columbus set sail to America the native americans used blankets made from hides or pelts of smaller animals which had been sewn together. They could also be woven from wool, feathers, down and cotton, and in some areas shredded cedar bark was used.
When the Europeans came and bartered with the native peoples, wool blankets had great value in trading and the brighter they were, the better. Most of the earlier trading blankets were plaids and block designs, like the traditional striped Hudson's Bay blankets. Jacquard loomed Pendleton Indian blankets with their brilliant colors and sharp details became very popular after their introduction into what was known as the "Indian trade".
The Preservation Series finds it's inspiration in arrival weavings from all across America, Pendleton teamed up with museum curators as well as private collectors to gather all kind of inspiration in order to bring these traditional pattern back to life within the Archival Weaving collection! A portion of the sales from the Preservation series will help found Native American art and education programming and outreach.
PS02 is also known as the Navajo Child's Blanket has a pattern that dates back to the 1870s. The name Child's blanket comes from the original blankets small size, complex pattering and tight weave. The blanket is a wonderful example of the so called late classic period and the design futures spider women crosses. The original blanket got it's red color from red trade cloth that the weaver unraveled and respun, the other colors used was gray and white wool with vegetal and indigo dyed yarns. All the yarn was also stunned by hand in the original blanket. The original can be found in the Durango Collection, Center of Southwest studies.
Today the blanket designs are made in collaboration with representatives of the Native American society.
- Pendleton The Preservation Series Archival Weaving PS02 Jacquard Robe
- 82% wool, 18% cotton
- Measures 162cm x 203cm
- Unnapped
- Made in USA
