Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-01-18
AWARDED A GOLD
MEDAL AND A DIPLOMA
The Fine Collection of Navajo Blankets by
Hon. Arthur Seligman at the Pan-Amer.
ican Exposition Attracted Attention.
1T WAS EXHIBITED In
THE ETHNOLOGY BUILDING

the board of county commissioners of
Santa Fe county, today received no.
tice from General Manager Buchanan
of the Pan-American exposition at
Buffalo, that he has been awarded a
gold medal and diploma for his fine
exhibit Of Navajo and other Indian
blankets. Says the Buffalo Express:
Lovers of the beautiful in household
decoration We're greatly pleased to see
in Buffalo during the exposition, the
| finest collection Of Navajo blankets in
the world, many of them being over
100 years old and having history con-
nected with them that makes them
priceless. They are the property of
Hon. Arthur Seligman of Santa Fe.
New Mexico, who represented the ter
ritory at the Pan-American exposition
as commissioner appointed by Cover
nor Otero of New Mexico"
Mr.. Seligman's entire collection con-
sists of 100 blankets. Fifty-seven Of
them were on exhibition in the Ethnol-
ogy building at Buffalo. There was no
danger of anyone mistaking them for
the ordinary modern Navajo blankets
that are offered for sale so freely. Mr..
Seligman's collection Is priceless to
him and will some day be offered to
the Smithsonian Institute or to some
historical association when established
in New Mexico. When he was years
old, Mr. Seligman began to buy fine
Navajo blankets and what was at first
with him. He never allows fine blan-
ket to get away from him, If money
will buy it, and today he has collec-
ton that is priceless. His reason for
not sending his entire collection to
Buffalo was due to the impossibility of
obtaining adequate insurance from
losses by theft and otherwise. There
are in the collection, blankets of every
possible design, weave and color.
In the old Vayetta blankets that are
over 100 years old, are colors more
brilliant than those Of the most costly
Persian and Armenian rugs, and they
are not affected by either sun or water.
In size they vary from saddle blan-
ket to blankets 6xs feet. Most of the
blankets are in good condition after
having been exposed to hard usage for
so years and even longer.
There are some fine specimens of
Capotas in the collection, these being
good sized blankets with slit in the
center, often large enough to put the
head of person through, the entire
blanket however being woven in one
piece. In making up this collection,
Mr.. Seligman obtained many Of them
from the Oldest Spanish families in
New Mexico, including the families of |
Otero, Luna, Chaves, Baca, Armijo, |
Ortiz, Sanchez, Lopez, Lucero, Pine,
Vigil and others. 1t has been the GUS
tom to hand down these blankets from
generation to generation and many Of
them are Of historical interest, having
been used by governors, generals and
warriors of illustrious fame. Could they
but talk they might relate many an in
teresting tale, describing heroic
deed, a bloody assassination, an inquis-
ltorial cruelty or story Of romantic
love connected with the history Of New
Mexico, during the last $50 years.
From the best information obtainable
It is believed that before the advent Of
the Spaniards, large animals similar
to the vicuna or the llama, were found
in what is now New Mexico and Ari-
zona. The wool used in spinning and
weaving blankets and garments was
from these animals. All Of
he weaving was done by Navajo
'quaws. The different tribes and ma
ions Of the Pueblos were weavers to
'ome extent and the squaws of the
Moquis and the Zunis made some blan-
kets that were superior to the Nava-
os. These. however, are very scarce.
In the collection are half dozen
blankets made by the Moqui squaws
,ver rs years ago. The length of time
o weave a good sized blanket, COM
'osed principally Of Vayetta, was from
ix to twelve months. vayetta blan-
,ets will hold water. In the art of dye
ng, the Navajoes we're unexcelled
md the colors In the older Navajo
blankets never faded. OF late years
he Indians have used Germantown
arm, already dyed, in the weaving Of
blankets. No two of the old blankets
re woven with the same design.
Among them are the horizon pattern,
he cloud pattern, the lightning, the
ain and the cross patterns
James L. Seligman, brother Of Hon.
Arthur Seligman, aided in gathering
his unique collection of blankets. He
. also considered an authority upon
his interesting subject and has very
ne collection of blankets which shares
n the Pan-American exposition award
+ gold medal and diploma.
Professor Jones Honorsd.
Professor F. A. Jones, OF the New
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