Spider Woman's Gift: Nineteenth-Century Dine Textiles: Nineteenth-Century Diné Textiles - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0890135312 ISBN 13: 9780890135310

Publisher: Museum of New Mexico Press, 2011

Synopsis

Between the red canyon walls of Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, in the heart of the Navajo Nation, stands an eight-hundred-foot sandstone rock formation known as Spider Rock. According to Dine oral history, this sacred place is where Spider Woman, or Na ashe'ii'tasdzaa, makes her home. For centuries, her gift of weaving has provided the Dine with a constant means of sustenance. Dine textile and basketry weavings in Santa Fe's Museum of Indian Arts and Culture collections created between the 1850s and the 1890s allow us to explore the oral history of Spi-der Woman and the early history of the Dine during this time. This book presents two viewpoints on Dine weaving. One is the perspective of Dine weaver and museum educator, Joyce Begay-Foss and the other viewpoint is from well-known Dine textile scholar and anthro-pologist, Marian Rodee. Starting with early baskets, there is visual evidence of Spider Woman's influence, for it was this early knowledge of hand weaving and dyes that transferred into early textile weaving after the Dine acquired wool. The Dine textiles dating from 1840 to 188o were primarily made for Native use, as well as for intertribal trade. They include one-piece dresses, mantas, two-piece dresses, women's shoulder blankets, and ponchos. Designs range from simple bands and stripes to intricate in-terlocking serape patterns. Of particular interest are fine examples of highly recognised chief blankets, as well as the crowning achievement of classic-period serapes showing the finest de-signs and materials. Published in association with the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.

About this title

About the Author

Shelby J Tisdale is director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture / Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

About this edition

• Publisher: Museum of New Mexico Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0890135312
• ISBN 13: 9780890135310
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96
• Editor: Tisdale Shelley J