Bayeta serape

Serapes (the Spanish term for blanket or shawl) are a prominent and specific example of Diné (Navajo) weaving that became viewed as a garment of prestige as well as a valuable trade item in the Rio Grande Valley and the broader Southwest in the early nineteenth century. Vibrantly colored and vividly patterned, these so-called wearing blankets build on long-established design themes. Varied weaving traditions are reflected in the horizontal lines, diamond shapes, and serrated edges, all characteristic of Southwest Native American patterns. This dynamic art form—a deeply rooted living tradition integral to Diné (Navajo) culture—continues to flourish today through the efforts of a new generation of innovative weavers.





This nineteenth-century serape’s distinctiveness relates to both its formal qualities as well as its ownership history. Its central diamond motifs feature bird pictorials, enclosed by so-called Spider Woman Crosses as well as a vertical opening. No other bayeta serapes are known where bird pictorials, Spider Woman Crosses, and a Spider Woman Opening appear together in their central diamonds. The serape is also the only known classic or late classic example with documented collection history linked to a high-ranking member of the Diné (Navajo) nation, who sold it to a Euro-American soldier during the Civil War.