AROUND HOME : Notes on Painted Tin, Tiling and Big Napkins : Weaving of the Southwest BY MARIAN RODEE (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.; 1987)

FASCINATING BOTH TO the collector and to the casual student of American Indian arts and crafts, this is a detailed study (with generous color illustrations) of the history of weaving in the Southwest. Particular emphasis is placed on the colorful and imaginative blankets that have been produced by Navajo women for almost 300 years. At the end of the 17th Century, they learned the art of weaving on upright looms from their Pueblo neighbors, and from that time on Navajo blankets--variously used as serapes and saddle blankets and hogan entrance flaps--were much sought after, not only by other Native Americans, but by Mexicans and Anglos as well. By the late 19th Century, the Navajos were producing heavier blankets also used as rugs and wall hangings, enormously popular in the eastern United States. In addition, the book has much splendid material about contemporary Navajo weaving: Ceremonial design rugs made from sand paintings, for example, and Yei deity rugs.