Chinle & Wide Ruins Areas Weavings
The
Chinle style, developed at the mouth of Canyon de Chelly, was the inspiration
of trader Cozy McSparron, his wife Inja and Boston scholar Mary Cabot Wheelwright.
Wheelwright, who went on to establish the Wheelwright Museum of Navajo
Ceremonial Art in Santa Fe, helped provide the funds and encouragement to
support weavers who were, for the first time, working exclusively with vegetal
dyes. McSparron was a major influence on Sallie and Bill Lippincott at Wide
Ruins.
Two young anthropology graduates from the University of Chicago spent the summer of 1938 as Park Rangers at Canyon de Chelly. They were befriended by Cozy and Inja McSparron, traders from Chinle, Arizona. At the end of the summer, they decided that they loved the Navajo country and the people but didn’t like working for the government. McSparron convinced them to buy a trading post and they did, purchasing the Wide Ruins post,18 miles north of Chambers, AZ. There they worked with weavers and developed a unique style of banded rugs colored with vegetal dyes.
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Weaving - Miniature Navajo Chinle by Louise Bia Yazzie, CACPAN-45197
Regular Price:$150.00
$150.00
We have been visiting and shopping at Toh-Atin for over twenty years. Always loved visiting with Jackson and his mother. We would spend hours gathering information on rugs, jewelry, and baskets- what a tremendous inventory. Everyone was so knowledgeable. We have so many memorable pieces. Jackson asked my husband, " How often do you get compliments on your tie?" We bought a very nice bolo! :)
We had just seen and visited with Jackson two weeks earlier and were so saddened and shocked to hear of his passing. What a loss to friends, family, and community. Our deepest condolences to his family and to the staff.
Layne and Liz Puls, Boerne, TX
