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Collecting Native American
Art
Native
American TRADE BLANKETS
The outward expansion of
European settlers introduced valuable new items to Native American
life, including wool blankets.
The tighter weaves of the
European blankets meant heavier, warmer blankets than those being
produced by Native Americans at the time.
Local tribes would trade
precious stones and silver with the settlers in exchange for these
“trade blankets.” Eventually, the western tribes leaned
how to produce these higher quality blankets on their own and
incorporated their unique design patterns into the weavings.
When contemplating
the purchase of a trade blanket, the buyer is offered three basic
choices:
- A traditional blanked
made with hand spun yarn and natural pigments.
- A traditionally styled
blanked made with hand spun yarns and commercial dyes, using
modern tools for a tighter, cleaner finish.
- Traditionally styled
blankets made with machined yarns and mass-produced manufacturing
techniques.
Traditional blankets made
with hand spun yarns, natural pigments and traditional tools,
are cruder in appearance and design than contemporary weavings
or commercially made replicas.
Trade blankets made with
modern materials but using traditional techniques, such as the
use of hand spun yarn, are preferable from a collection standpoint
versus commercially manufactured pieces.
While contemporary tools
and techniques allow for a better-finished product over hand spinning
yarn, there is a still a traditional look and feel as compared
to manufactured textiles.
Contemporary pieces may also
appear bolder in color if the artist chooses to use modern dying
techniques over conventional. These pieces also tend to have more
balanced design layout and tighter finish on the edges.
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