• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.37-48
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to survey Navajo's textiles of the transitional period(1868-1890) and to examine appearance background of those textiles. The two study questions were central to the project. 1) What were characteristics of eye-dazzler and pictorial in the transitional period? 2) How developed was the American trader's role? To perform the purpose, literatures on this subject were surveyed, investigation of textiles in Arizona State Museum and Historical Museum of Arizona were accomplished. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Eye-dazzler is called because of their small, serrate triangle and diamond patterns in intense, contrasting colors. Eye-dazzler mostly used Germantown yam and wedge-weave technique. Germantown was a plied yam colored with synthetic dyes. Wedge-weave technique used optical illusions and an undulating technique to create an effect of motion and rhythmic symmetry. 2. The Americans began to intern Navajos at Bosque Redondo, New Mexico in 1863. During their stay at Bosque Redondo, the Navajo came into greater contact with Rio Grande blankets. The influence of designs of these becomes increasingly important in the eye-dazzler. 3. Pictorial materials included rich new sources the railroad provided and living environment of animals, plants, hogans, neighbors, deities that interested the Navajo. Also, sandpainting textiles were a pictorial. Three types of textiles utilized: yei, yeibichai, and sandpainting tapestry. 4. The arrival of the railroad caused many changes for the lives and textiles of the Navajos. The railroad brought a new client into the Navajo, and the Navajos attempted new textiles with design-inspiring fresh materials to adjust taste of the eastern purchasers.