b'By Jim and Bobbi Jeen Olson,WesternTradingPost.comA lthough historically the Navajo people neverSecond-phase chiefs blankets are generally worth a good bit really had any one person recognized as aless than the elusive first-phase blankets, but they are still chief per se, they are well known forpretty valuable as there is not an excess of these available their chiefs blankets. A chiefs blanket waseither. As we started getting into the last half of the 19th said to be called such because only a chiefcentury, designs started changing againhence, the or a wealthy person could afford to ownthird-phase chiefs blanket.oneeven in the 1800s, they were expensive. According to Antiques Roadshow, a first- Third-phase chiefs blankets can be identified by their phase chiefs blanket could be worth as muchnine diamonds which are now accented over the as one million dollars today! But just what isstripes. Additional colors also show up as weavers a chiefs blanket? experimented more with dyes. Third-phase blankets are both the shortest-lived and longest-lived versions A chiefs blanket was a wearing blanketall at once.(usually worn similar to a shawl) and it also doubled as a blanket for sleeping with atYou see, what most collectors consider an authentic night. Handmade by the Navajo, they werethird-phase chiefs blanket was only woven for about so well woven they were purported to be10 years. These are blankets were made strictly for practically waterproofthis is the legend ofwearing and sleeping with (just like first and second-a chiefs blanket. Before the Navajo startedphase blankets were) before the end of the late classic weaving floor rugs for tourist\'s consumptionperiod (when the weavers started making floor rugs (after the 1870s), saddle blankets, clothing,for traders and tourists and got away from making and wearing blankets (things they actuallywearing blankets). used) were what were made by the dexterous weavers. Beginning sometime during theHowever, the third-phase style blankets have 1700s, and until their decline in use aboutendured longer than any other in the sense that this the late 1800s, there were three differentstyle is still regularly woven to this day. They were styles or phases the blankets went through.made both as wearing blankets and rugs during First, second, and third-phase chiefsthe transitional period and are still woven in the blankets are how we refer to them today andmodern period (although some do refer to these as each is identifiable by design. third-phase variants or fourth-phase blankets).First-phase chiefs blankets are exceedinglyIt is known in collectors circles that chiefs rare. Estimates are that only around fiftyblankets made during the classic period (before of them are known to have survived the1863) are the ones most highly sought after. These test of time and are in collections orare the only ones considered as truly authentic museums today. First-phase blankets arechiefs blankets by some purists. They refer to recognizable because of their banded orany weaving made in the chiefs blanket style striped pattern, usually made with indigoafter that time frame to be more of a rug than blue, brown, and white stripes. Some latera wearing blanket. However, there were surely first-phase blankets may have small redsome wearing blankets still woven after the stripes as well. The Utes were said to beclassic period (hence the term transitional a main customer for the Navajo weaversperiod which is when they were transitioning on the first-phase blankets and they arefrom making blankets to rugs). sometimes referred to as Ute Style" first-phase blankets. First-phase blanketsAlso, lets be sure and keep our phases and were made from the inception of Navajoperiods straight when talking about Navajo blanket weaving (circa the 1700s) up untiltextiles. The three phases of chiefs blankets about 1840 or 50 when a new design beganrefer to the three main styles or design changes to appear. The style we now refer to asthe weavings went through (striped, striped second-phase chiefs blankets. with twelve rectangles, and striped with nine diamonds). While the periods refer to periods Second-phase chiefs blankets are identifiedof time (classic being pre-1863 and transitional as such because they were now accentedbeing after that and up until around 1900). with twelve rectangular blocks workedAs with any valuable collectible, rarity and into the striped pattern. This new designcondition have a lot to do with price. It is appeared in history from about 1840 toalso very important to deal with an honest the 1860s, give or take a little on eachand reputable seller when purchasing one. side. Its not like the transition took placeAs mentioned earlier, they are still making overnightit was a gradual process. Mostchiefs blankets to this day, but you dont second-phase blankets now had red color towant to pay a genuine first-phase price for go with the indigo blue, brown, and white.something that is not worth that. ArizonaRealCountry.com July 2021 41'