Classic Rio Grande Blanket Circa 1860

New Mexico (Spanish Colonial

Circa 1860 | Churro Wool | Item 2389

This is a rare and beautiful classic Rio Grande blanket with deep indigo blue. It is done in a banded pattern, where five of the bands contain vertical zig zag shapes done in the stepped technique. The use of the zig zags, and the way they meet in the center, is based on the Mexican saltillo blankets. The small blue and brown diamonds in the center zig zag bands look like stacked, small diamonds as in the salitllos. In addition, there are smaller bands of brown and white ticking bordered with indigo blue. The overall effect is impressive, with the white popping out since the majority of the blanket is done in deep blues and browns. The blanket is woven in two panels with a seam down the center. The use of stepping to achieve the diagonal lines in the zig zags is indicative of Navajo weaving. While we can not prove it, this blanket may have been woven by a Navajo in a Spanish Colonial household.