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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: goingloco on Sunday 17 July 22 15:48 BST (UK)
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I couldn't find a more appropriate place for this question, so here goes.
I have a very old ‘Indian’ blanket and I’m trying to pinpoint whether it is North American or South American. I’ve tried online searches, but nothing I found has clarified matters. From what I have read, the pattern could be either an ‘Inca’ style or north American. It was always known in the family as the ‘red Indian’ blanket, which could be misleading. My grandparents could have called it that in a general way, just to amuse me!
I had 2 great uncles who left England in 1890 for Buenos Aires. One seems to have stayed in Argentina, whilst the other relocated to Illinois and became a naturalized US citizen in 1900. Both brothers stayed in touch with their sisters in England, and I have other gifts they sent home which are easier to identify, from both north & south America, so the blanket could have come from either brother. I am stumped and need direction.
If anyone knows of a museum or forum for this type of thing, I would love to hear.
Or, if anyone has knowledge of this type of textiles, I could try to post a picture. But my skills are a bit limited in that direction!
Thank you for reading.
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Post a photo. I've seen a lot of South American weaving; not so much North American.
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I note from your profile that you are based in Kent. Your nearest museum with North and South American collections is probably Maidstone Museum, though I am not sure whether these collections include textiles. Otherwise, both the British Museum and the Horniman Museum (Forest Hill, London SE23) have collections of North and South American blankets.
If you can manage to post a photograph, that would be helpful.
Margow
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Thank you both for your replies. I’ll attempt to post a photo tomorrow.
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It’s been a steep learning curve this morning, wrangling with photo sizes, but I think I’ve cracked it.
The blanket is 37” wide by 84” long (without the fringe)
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Here's something similar, Mexican Saltillo blanket
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/vintage-mexican-saltillo-blanket-wool-1940s-1950s--519180663271103562/
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Oh yes! I hadn't even considered Mexican. I focused solely on Argentina & Illinois, where the great uncles lived.
Maybe it has nothing to do with either of them, after all.
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Excellent photograph which shows a typical Central American blanket or serape, most commonly associated with Mexico, but found throughout Central America. Though it's not clear from the photograph, it's probably woven from wool on cotton warps.
Margow
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The string fringes, the warps(?) do look like cotton. And the weave yarn is a bit coarse and very tightly packed.
It’s an odd size, but used to cover my childhood bed as an extra layer - warm & decorative.
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I'd say North American but certainly not Illinois. The blanket weavers were in the southwest and Mexico.
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I think this may remain a mystery! Definitely not Argentina or Illinois, but somewhere in between!
I will try the 2 museums suggested and post an update of any results.
Thank you both for your interest and help.
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Like Erato, my guess would be southwest. The “diamond” is intriguing.
I am very interested to see what the museum staff believe.
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I understand that some may see resemblances here to southwestern weaving (e.g. Navajo) and indeed southwestern weavers did incorporate motifs from other areas (e.g. Mexico) in their rugs and blankets. However, in my view, this particular blanket is typically Central American and probably Mexican. The central diamond motif is also typical. In some areas a slit may be woven or inserted into the diamond for the wearer's head to go through, so that the blanket may be worn as a poncho.
When folded up, such blankets are relatively light and portable. They were (and are) popular tourist souvenirs. While this blanket may have originated in Central America, the OP's great uncles could well have picked it up elsewhere.
Margow
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I know nothing about the great uncles, apart from what I have gleaned through my tree research. They may well have travelled, for business or pleasure. There were World Fairs in Chicago in 1893 & 1933, maybe purchased there by Illinois great uncle? From 1930 onwards he was living in Canton, Illinois. Not too far from Chicago. I have 2 other items with a Chicago provenance, so maybe he was a occasional visitor.
I think I can conclude that its not south American, but which great uncle might have sent it will remain a mystery.
Thank you all for the information.