Yellow t-shirt with identical printed design on left breast and back. Design is of a person sitting cross-legged on the ground. Their left hand is covering their face, right is resting against their leg and gesturing to a red plate with a vatu banknote on it. Large red text, in Bislama, is printed to the figure’s right. On the front, the text translates to: “Are you able to eat money?!”. On the back, the text translates to: “Selling land? Think carefully about it…”. Black text underneath the figure, spanning the entire bottom half of the t-shirt, translates to: “Are you able to eat money?!”.

Large, light blue t-shirt with printed design on front, and text on the back and sleeves. Design is made up of text, in Bislama, forming a dark green plastic bag. Text translates to “No plastic bags, please!”. Extending from the top of the bag is a long, knotted strap. Small tassels protrude from the bottom corners. Logos for the Vanuatu Climate Action Network and the Oxfam charity organization are printed on the sleeves in black. Across the back of the t-shirt there is dark green text, in Bislama, asking individuals to sign an online petition.

Gift of Priscilla Hagan.

Frank Sherman Benson Fund

Frank Sherman Benson Fund

Gift of Mrs. Michael de Havenon

Frank Sherman Benson Fund

This wearing blanket has an all over diamond pattern common to the late nineteenth century. Also typical is the fact it has no border, which weavings intended for rug use often have thus it is probably a wearing blanket.Condition: good. In 1880-1881 the Santa Fe Railroad came through Navajo territory bringing new materials and the potential for new customers for Navajo weavings. As soon as the Germantown 4 ply yarns and commercial aniline dyes became available, Navajo weavers employed them to their full potential. Designs changed from simple stripes and conservative diamond patterns to an explosion of innovation in weaving using new colors not available with natural dyes, such as yellow, orange, green and purple. On this wearing blanket a new wedge- weave development created shimmering effects with a complex exchange of background and foregrounds that uses yellow and red synthetic dyes, a white natural yarn, and indigo dyed homespun yarn. For a decade this break away styling was very popular with non-Native clients and such weavings became known as Eye Dazzlers.

Two piece shawl or llijlla woven with wide bands called pampakuna of indigo and multi-striped geometric panels at the sides of each section forming a double width central panel. Other colors are burgundy red, green, yellow white, black and purple. The tubular edge binding or ribete in burgundy with ojo de gato (or diamond shaped) lozenges in blue and white.

Frank Sherman Benson Fund