Mid-20th C. Chimayo Wool Thunderbird Blanket — Ochre, Stripe Border, 88x51.5"

A hand-woven wool blanket in the Chimayo tradition of northern New Mexico, produced in the mid-20th century tourist trade era. Spanish settlers brought their weaving tradition to the region in the 17th century, using churro sheep wool and wooden floor looms — a heritage that produced the distinctive format seen here. The early 20th century saw a revival characterized by two stripe borders and a central design that became known as the Chimayo design, and this blanket follows that format precisely. The central Thunderbird is executed in black against a warm golden ochre field, rendered in a stylized spread-wing posture with a single eye, flanked by opposing red and turquoise directional arrows and a tiered multicolor dome in cream, teal, orange, brown, and grey, with a stepped mesa element in burgundy and cream at the base. Scattered fan-dash cluster motifs in red, white, and teal populate the four quadrants — a post-1939 adaptation that replaced the Whirling Log symbol in Chimayo production. Construction is weft-faced flatweave on a traditional Spanish floor loom.

Multicolor horizontal stripe bands in black, teal, red, heathered grey, brown, and cream appear at both ends, terminating in knotted natural fiber fringe — a hallmark of the traditional Chimayo format.

CONDITION

Fair. The central Thunderbird motif and lower field retain strong color and weave integrity, but the upper portion shows visible discoloration and fading consistent with prolonged wall display. Piling is present across the field surface, a row of mounting holes runs along the top edge, and minor warp fraying is visible at one corner selvedge.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Length (with fringe): 88"
• Width: 51.5"
• Construction: Weft-faced flatweave, traditional Spanish treadle loom
• Material: Wool
• Ground color: Golden ochre
• Fringe: Knotted natural fiber, both ends
• Primary motif: Thunderbird with directional arrows and stepped geometric elements
• Field motifs: Fan-dash clusters, four quadrants
• Border: Multicolor horizontal stripe bands, top and bottom
• Origin: Chimayo, New Mexico 
• Era: Mid-20th century (post-1939)