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Mid-classic sarape
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Mid-classic sarape
Date: Circa 1850-1860

“The evenly stepped diagonal lines, careful alternation of ‘broken stripes’, and the well-integrated, overall pattern identify this as a Classic period piece. Over time, patterns became fussier and divided into distinct sections, or zones.” —Ann Hedlund

“The weaver combined 3-ply yarns from Saxony in Germany, with handspun, native Churro sheep’s wool. Cochineal insects for the pink and red dyes were cultivated in Mesoamerica and exported to Europe. Cochineal-dyed yarns and fabrics then returned to America and traveled over the Santa Fe Trail to reach Navajo weavers. The Navajos never used native cochineal from the Southwest on their own handspun yarns.” —Ann Hedlund


Tapestry weave, interlocked joins

1.145 x 1.65 m; Tassels 0.060 m
64.961 x 45.079 in.; Tassels 2.362 in.

Catalog No. E-2867

Gift of Clay Lockett, 1955.

Function Fiber Type Ply-Spin-Twist Color Dye Count *
Warp Wool Saxony 3 z S Pink A Cochineal, Tested 2004 10
Warp Wool Handspun -- Z -- White None 10
Weft Wool Saxony 3 z S Pink-Red B Cochineal, Tested 2004 51
Weft Wool Saxony 3 z S Lt Green Vegetal 51
Weft Wool Handspun -- Z -- Dk Blue Indigo 51
Weft Wool Handspun -- Z -- White None 51
Ecord Wool Saxony 3(3 z S)- Lt Green Vegetal 2
Other Wool Handspun 3 z S Dk Blue Indigo --
* threads/inch
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