Customer Reviews

Chasing Rainbows: Collecting American Indian Trade & Camp Blankets

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It's time a female voice chimed in on this amazing book. There is almost no point comparing previous works on Indian blankets with Barry Friedman's "Chasing Rainbows: Collecting American Indian Trade & Camp Blankets" because there is no comparison. This book trumps the competition on every level. If anything, it's almost too beautiful for its own good. The pictures of the blankets are so dazzling that I fear people will just see it as a colorful adornment for a coffee table and neglect to read the text.

That would be a tragedy, because I wholeheartedly agree with the Amazon reviewer from San Francisco who proclaimed this the best book he has ever read on any collectible subject. I have NEVER read a book on antiques or collectibles written by an author with Friedman's combination of knowledge, enthusiasm and remarkable comic sensibility.

This is not to say he doesn't take his subject seriously. It's doubtful anyone takes it more seriously. The previous books on the subject read like Cliff's Notes compared to Friedman's penetrating portrait. So while I repeat that there is no comparison with earlier stabs at this topic, the differences must be mentioned to understand why this book is the new gold standard.

Robert W. Kapoun's worthy "Language Of The Robe: American Indian Trade Blankets" came out in 1992 and has been the reference in the field until now, but in the wake of Friedman's effort it is offically dethroned. Virtually all of the blankets Kapoun listed as manufacturer unknown in his book are conclusively identified here and Friedman offers histories of blanket manufacturers Kapoun doesn't even know existed.

The Kapoun blanket collection obviously was acquired by the glass artist Dale Chihuly and the result was the book "Chihuly's Pendletons". Chihuly also acquired Charles Lohrman, the writer that co-authored Kapoun's book. Chihuly's unfortunate introduction reveals he knows less than nothing about Indian blankets and Lohrman takes over from there with a rehash of the Kapoun text that is so abbreviated you'd think it was commissioned by Reader's Digest. The book consists of photos of 60 or so blankets (some misidentified and most already seen in Kapoun, but photographed much more beautifully by Chihuly) along with some exceptional historic photos of Native Americans wearing trade blankets. This is followed, inevitably, by a section that is the real reason for this book: a cavalcade of Chihuly glass vessels called Blanket Cylinders which the glassmeister states were inspired by the blankets. Chihuly may well have a genuine passion for the blankets, but he is overreaching here. Assuredly, glass photos are no doubt lusted after by his legions of fans, but their presence here makes the blankets appear to be nothing more than colorful excuses for yet another Chihuly glass book. While Chihuly may clearly see the historic link between his glass and Indian blankets, blanket collectors will find his book a self-serving contrivance.

Neither Chihuly or Kapoun bother with cotton Indian style blankets, but the subject is handled amiably in Jerry and Kathy Brownstein's "Beacon Blankets Make Warm Friends", a study of the leading maker of cotton camp blankets. Many vintage Beacon blanket catalogs are reproduced in their entirety (although in pictures so small that magnification is definitely recommended). Some attractive Beacon blankets are shown, but picture quality is fair at best. The Brownsteins know their subject, but they also attempt to be a price guide and their prices are often ridiculously low.

So that's the competition and brings me full circle to our Mr. Friedman, who is the real deal as both as a blanket expert and a writer. One senses he would be compelling writing about any subject. His is a unique voice that can be completely serious one moment and then instantly launch into inspired silliness a la Bill Murray the next. He mentions in his Author's Note that he is a professional comedy writer by trade and obviously his humor even extends to his book jacket photo. He states he's been immersed in the Indian blanket hunt for more than thirty years, but he appears to be 25 in his photo. Vanity may well be an issue here. Whatever his age, I don't think he will outlast the shelf life of this book. Young or old, Barry Friedman has produced a classic.

INCREDIBLE! This is not just the ultimate book on Indian blankets, but the best book I have ever read on any collectible subject. For starters, the book is beautiful - I need to upgrade my coffee table to show it off! The blankets are stunning and hundreds Id kill to own are pictured. There are also some wonderful historical photographs including my favorite: two carny operators in a midway booth where blankets are the prizes.

If youre a blanket collector, youll think youve died and gone to Heaven, but anyone interested in Native Americans or western history buffs will find this a critical addition to their library. The authors view of history is panoramic. He discusses the end of the Indian Wars and the transition of the Navajo weavers from making wearing blankets to a new product invented by white traders  the Navajo rug  and the simultaneous rise of the commercial manufacturers to provide blankets for the Navajo and many other tribes throughout America.

Every manufacturer gets their own chapter and receives much fuller treatment than they have in any previous book. The trade blanket companies discussed are Pendleton, Capps, Oregon City, Buell, Racine, Knight and Shuler & Benninghofen. Not a word about the last two has been mentioned in previous books. The Knight story is especially interesting  the business was originally financed by Brigham Young! Cotton camp blanket manufacturers  Beacon and Esmond  are also covered in great depth. An additional chapter addresses a number of miscellaneous manufacturers and another provides the most complete information on labels and dating of blankets ever presented.

At 304 pages this book is much larger than any previous book on the subject and is the first to cover both wool trade blankets and cotton camp blankets  Kapouns trade blanket book did not include cotton and Brownsteins book on Beacon blankets was focused strictly on that subject.

There is a huge bonus - the author is brilliantly funny. I cant remember ever reading a book on antiques that continuously made me laugh out loud. The chapter entitled Collecting Indian Blankets: Its Symptoms and Treatment is priceless.

Mr. Friedman advises what to look for in each companys blankets  which patterns and colors to buy or avoid; and also addresses the buying and selling of blankets including the positives and negatives of eBay. His chapter on care and repair of blankets notes: Moths need only three things to survive and breed  food, shade and privacy. I require just those three things and cable.

Clearly Friedman knows more about vintage Indian blankets than anyone alive and his passion for the subject is delightfully contagious. This is a gorgeous and enormously entertaining effort by an expert who also happens to be an extremely gifted writer. I urge you to buy this book and demand Mr. Friedman pens a second volume as soon as possible!

Who would have thought it possible? A veritable BIBLE on the history of Indian blankets, but written with wit and humor to accompany Friedman's expertise. The illustrations are true to the color of each blanket-no mean feat in the printing game! And they are SPLENDID! I know, I know...it helps to have such pulchritudinous subject matter, but the photos truly do justice to the beautiful blankets. There is no better source of information on this VERY American subject, and the book will easily win pride of place on your favorite coffee table. A PRICELESS COMPENDIUM by the maven of blanket lore. And Friedman has risen to the top of my wish list of dinner guests. I gotta MEET this guy!! He is HYSTERICAL!! A job VERY well done!

This is a magnificent book certain to be the definitive resource on the subject of Indian Trade and Camp Blankets. Barry Friedman has brought structure to a field heretofore unfocused and lacking the exhaustive research Mr. Friedman provides so impressively here. The illustrations are lush and generous. This is a remarkably handsome sourcebook for both serious collectors of Indian trade and camp blankets as well as the novice who will become inspired by their fascinating history. Mr. Friedman's writing style is not only authoritative, but sprinkled with humorous asides that make it read like a letter from your smartest and funniest friend.

Two friends of mine bought this book and started quoting hilarious lines from it by heart. I laughed so hard they bought me a copy although I didn't know a thing about Indian blankets nor for that matter did I care. Now I do. Or maybe I don't and I'm just deluding myself because I found "Chasing Rainbows" so captivating. I don't collect anything except possibly dust and here I am utterly enchanted by a subject that I had never given a second thought in my life. It's not fair to categorize this book as just about Indian blankets. It's far more than that. It's about the Indian Wars, Navajo weaving, textile mills, drunk designers, shifty carny operators, the collecting mentality, antique dealers, the futility of price guides and above all it's about fun. It's a book of staggering beauty written with a unique comic twist NEVER found in coffee table format. Is there any other collecting book that has subtitles like "Moths I Have Known" or "This Portion Of The Book Tastes Like Chicken"?

I was so impressed with "Chasing Rainbows" that I drove 800 plus miles round trip to meet the author and have him sign my book at the Marin Indian Art Show in San Rafael, California. In person he was every bit as approachable, knowledgable and entertaining as his incredible book. I'll make this short and sweet - Barry Friedman is likely smarter than the rest of us, definitely funnier than the rest of us, unquestionably a far better writer than the rest of us and knows more about Indian blankets than all of us combined. Ladies and gentlemen, if you treasure books and consider them a necessity in your life, owning this book is mandatory.

Absolutely one of the most refreshing and interesting books to come my way in a very long time. The text is insightful and very clever and the blankets are mesmerizing. My highest recommendation.

A quick read of the reviews for this book reveal a Barry Friedman cult is already in full bloom. Tally yet another convert in me. I am delighted this singular volume found a home at the very prestigious Bulfinch Press. Bulfinch is the exclusive home of Ansel Adams and boasts multiple titles by the likes of Herb Ritts, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Robert Mappelthorpe. What's a collector/dealer of commercially manufactured Indian blankets doing in exalted company like this? Bulfinch decided he belongs and indeed he does. Friedman's artistry is in his words. He has an absolute mastery of his subject and a sense of humor that is quirky and completely audacious. One senses he KNOWS text like his is never found in books like this and somehow induced an editor to became a co-conspirator. A magnificently illustrated collecting book written with spirit and wit is just not done and certainly not by the likes of a high-toned publishing house like Bulfinch Press. Until now, that is. This is more than a book - it's a gorgeous act of rebellion!

The author has done the impossible here.His writing is even more colorful than these eyedazzling blankets.As a lifelong collector of quilts and Navajo weavings, I have been guilty of overlooking these commercially made textiles and thanks to this book I now see the error of my ways.Barry Friedman makes his case for the importance of these blankets with facts, passion and great warmth and humor.I swear I found this book more enjoyable than anything on the best-seller lists and it will end up costing me far more than its purchase price.The author has succeeded in turning me not only into a fan, but convinced me to be a collector!

The long-rumored book by the rather legendary authority on Indian blankets is finally a reality and the result is one of the great surprises of my reading life.I was expecting superb photos of spectacular blankets.I was expecting the hard data collectors love - label information and the like.These things the author serves up in spectacular helpings and blows the previous books on the subject completely out of the water.
What I was NOT expecting was masterful storytelling and towering wit. A relatively dry subject in ordinary hands becomes a riveting and often hilarious joyride here.Friedman's take on the antiques business and wickedly clever asides are worthy of Dave Barry on DB's very best day.Moreover, his grasp of history is sure and thought-provoking.It isn't necessary to be a blanket collector to love this book.It's the author you'll come to love and he will make you love and understand these beautiful blankets.THIS is the book I'll be buying for friends this year!!

For those of you sick of experts who take themselves and their subjects so seriously that they totally forget to keep their readers awake, this breathtakingly beautiful book is the antidote. I saw this book on a friend's coffee table and started reading it, loved it, bought my own copy, then bought copies for friends and might even start giving it to total strangers just so they can partake in the Barry Friedman Experience! I never thought a book on Indian blankets would be the funniest book I've read in years, but that's precisely the case. It'll also teach you everything you could ever want to know about Indian blankets if you can stop laughing long enough to concentrate. I don't know what the author's next book might be, but whatever he's selling I am buying!!!!!