Navajo Weaving

Kate Peck Kent

• Publisher: Paeroa House
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9781779796271
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

In the windswept mesas and red-rock canyons of the American Southwest, an extraordinary artistic tradition has flourished for centuries, transforming simple wool and cotton into breathtaking tapestries that tell the soul of a people. The Story of Navajo Weaving unveils the mesmerizing journey of one of America's most revered indigenous art forms, where every thread carries the weight of ancestral wisdom and every pattern holds the secrets of survival, beauty, and cultural resilience. Kate Peck Kent takes readers deep into the heart of Navajo country, where master weavers have created textiles so magnificent they command reverence in museums worldwide, yet remain deeply rooted in the daily rhythms of tribal life. This captivating exploration reveals how Navajo weaving evolved from practical necessity into sublime artistry, weathering Spanish colonization, Kit Carson's devastating campaigns, government suppression, and the relentless pressures of modernization. Kent masterfully weaves together archaeological discoveries, oral histories, and intimate portraits of individual artists to create a rich tapestry of human determination and creative genius. Through her vivid storytelling, readers witness the transformation of humble materials into geometric masterpieces that capture the essence of desert landscapes, sacred ceremonies, and the unbreakable bonds between generations. The book pulses with the drama of cultural survival, revealing how Navajo weavers turned their art into both economic lifeline and powerful statement of identity. For anyone fascinated by indigenous cultures, textile arts, or the untold stories of American creativity, this book offers an unprecedented window into a world where art and life intertwine inseparably. Kent's authoritative yet accessible narrative makes complex cultural concepts vivid and immediate, while her deep respect for Navajo traditions ensures authentic representation of this sacred craft. Readers will emerge with profound appreciation for the skill, patience, and spiritual dedication required to create these textile treasures, understanding how Navajo weaving represents far more than decoration, it embodies the very essence of cultural continuity and artistic triumph against overwhelming odds.

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• THE TRUE LOOM
• Foreword
• CHAPTER I—A Brief History of Navaho Weaving
• CHAPTER II—Important Types of Navaho Textiles From the Classic to the Revival Period (1850-1920)
• CHAPTER III—The Revival of 1920
• CHAPTER IV—Contemporary Navaho Weaving
• CHAPTER V—What to Look For in a Navaho Rug And the Future of Navaho Weaving
• Glossary of Textile Terms
• Supplementary References
• Acknowledgements
• MAPS