HISTORIC NAVAJO GERMANTOWN EYEDAZZLER LOOM SAMPLER, EXCELLENT CONDITION, C1885

Description

HISTORIC NAVAJO GERMANTOWN EYEDAZZLER LOOM SAMPLER, EXCELLENT CONDITION, C1885
This rare and highly collectible Navajo Germantown Eyedazzler Loom Sampler is quite unusual in that it seems to have two stylized and abstract train locomotives passing one another and heading in opposite directions in the lower corners of the weaving.  Also, the carved batten is especially well formed.  A most charming and unique museum-quality weaving made right after the train and the Germantown wool that rode along with it were introduced into the Wild West and NavajoLand.
Measures approximately 18” x 21” (14” x 16” image).  Late 19th C.  All Germantown yarns. Fresh to the marketplace. Excellent condition, though it dies have some uniform fade on one side.  Both sides shown.
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IN
an effort to assist Buyers with understanding the way I describe the condition of Navajo weavings that I’m selling on ebay, I spoke with Navajo textile author and expert Tyrone Campbell about his ‘Classification Categories for Condition’ that he first published in his NEWSLETTER in 1981.
After discussing with him that we may have to tweak it a bit because its been 40 years since it was originally comprised and has gotten nearly impossible to find weavings in excellent, let alone mint condition these days, I concluded, what the hell, why mess with a good thing.  It’s a standard worth sticking to!  So here it is as originally written (and with permission to reprint from Tyrone, July 2020).
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“CLASSIFICATION
CATEGORIES
FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL CONDITION
FRAGMENT:           Any portion of an entire weaving.
DETERIORATED:  Heavily damaged, warps exposed, selvage missing, large holes, serious fading or running, corners or areas missing.
AVERAGE:               Shows floor wear or small holes, some selvage damage, very minor bleeding, etc.
GOOD:                      Above average classification may still show use, but not broken warps.  In some cases a very small hole or two or a minor selvage break or two is acceptable.
EXCELLENT:           No holes, no bleeding or fading, no exposed warps or serious selvage damage.
MINT:                        This classification means that the textile is in pristine condition.
NOTE:  In the case of rare weavings we will up-grade the condition classification from Average to Good or from Good to Excellent, but in no case to Mint or from Deteriorated to Average condition.”
From THE TYRONE D. CAMPBELL NEWSLETTER, Published at Albuquerque, N.M., 1981.
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