A Rare And Early Hopi Cotton Manta

Item: 1266

Origins: Hopi
Date:  Circa 1860 or earlier

Media: Cotton, wool, bayeta

Dimensions: 46″ by 37″

Description: This is an early Hopi manta collected by Roy H. Robinson on January 6, 1927.  The warp and weft are hand spun cotton woven in a diagonal twill pattern.  The upper and lower bands have cotton warp and natural, brown weft wool in a diamond twill pattern.  The fine bands of red are cochineal/lac dyed, wool yarns unravelled from worsted, S spun (the S twist is barely discernible) bayeta. This manta is in remarkable condition.  It is interesting that there is no indigo blue yarns.  Where the indigo yarns would be, there is instead the natural brown wool wefts.   This is a striking manta, very early yet showing a simple, modern esthetic.

Condition:  Condition is very good with minor restoration to one area.

Provenance: Roy H. Robinson collection. Affixed with two paper labels inscribed: Old Hopi cotton. Very rare / Rec. 1/6/27 and: A.D. 138 75.00

Price: 26,000