Customer Reviews

Navaho Weaving: Its Technic and History (Native American)

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Originally published in 1934, Amsden is considered the basic foundational text by authors writing on the history of Navajo blankets and rugs. While much new and helpful information has been written on Navajo weaving since then, most of these books used Amsden as original source material for much of their information. Pre-1940 Navajo blankets and rugs are among the most collectible artifacts in both the investment and art worlds today. Most all serious Indian art collectors, Native American Indian museum curators and related authors and academics will have a copy of this seminal work in their libraries.

Other recommendations: (1)Photos of antique blankets : "Navajo Textiles" The William Randolph Hearst Collection" by Nancy Blomberg; and (2)"Navajo Weaving Tradition" by Kaufman and Selser is one of the few "in print" books with and overview of the history of Navajo weaving. There is always a need for many more books in this area as so many titles are short run or specialty press issues. (Periodicals: (3) American Indian Art magazine with offices in Scottsdale, AZ publishes a quarterly and often features articles on early weavings.)

(Regarding other critiques of this book ; this is much more a book for collectors and investors and those interested in identifying and understanding the history and development of Navajo weavings and is not a "how to" book for those wishing to "learn to weave". Hobbyist shops have plenty of the latter available.)

A must for any Navajo textile collector for its rich detail and painstaking description of techniques plus a valuable history of Navaho weaving. First published in 1934,this book would be a rare find if it were a First Edition or even hard cover of the second printing.
Navaho Weaving - Its Technic and Its History (sic)features 261 pp. of text, 123 pp. of illustrations including photos and renderings of over 100 blankets with a large fold-out color illustration of an old Chief White Antelope Blanket that is eight times larger than the book and colored magnificently. Printed from 14 handcut rubber blocks, this blanket's design is breathtaking.
The author, Charles Avery Amsden served as curator of The Southwest Museum and secretary and treasurer until he died in 1941. This book represents years of in-depth research written in amazing detail.
If you can find an affordable (around $50 as of 2005) second printing (circa 1969) perhaps even a library binding edition, you will still receive the book's First Edition effect of a stunning and rich reference tome. The paperback is a lesser version, as it has many of the illustrations shrunk, plus lacks the huge Saxony yard serape illustration.

This is a very technical book on the subject of Navajo weaving, weaving techniques, and Southwest Indian History. It is written in a very formal, and in my opinion, dated style. The language is somewhat obtuse; many more words are used to share information than are required. All photos are black and white, probably because most came from very old, unrestored photos; as such,they are also of poor quality. Most picture captions are described as "plates", a very dated publishing practice. All of the above observations are why I say that it is perhaps most appropriate to a masters or doctoral student on indian or textile history and technique.

Since this book was on a recommended reading list on the web I am certain there is valuable information in this book for highly dedicated weaving enthusiasts. For instance, the book may go into detail about plants used for dying wool, even giving illustrations of those plants.

For the casual or intermediate weaver, however, I would recommend saving your money. This is the first book I ever sent back to Amazon. I couldn't even think of anyone to give it to. Not even a school teacher I know who loves SW Indian history. That is how dull I found it.

navajo weaving

its technic and its history

charles a amsden
FIRST SOFTCOVER EDITION 1990

Detailed and comprehensive study of the techniques of primitive weaving, from the building of the loom with materials at hand to the cleaning, carding and handling the raw wool from the sheared sheep

It is a remarkable accounting of a primitive people developing a most sophisticated skill.

At the time this book was first published in 1934, no non-Navajo Indian or Whiteman had ever developed the ability so beautifully displayed in this extraordinary art form.

No book has ever so carefully described this most ancient of crafts. Heavily illustrated. 7 color plates of masterpieces. Bibliography. Index. 460 pages.