Two Diné Women, a Loom, and a Cradleboard with a Child
Diné (Navajo)
Southwest
1947
Wool, cotton cloth, fur, glass trade beads, silver conches, turquoise, buckskin, and velour figures, mounted on a wood platform
Overall: 14 1/4 × 12 3/4 × 7 1/2 in. (36.2 × 32.4 × 19.1 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: The Wellington Indian Doll Collection Gift of Barbara Wellington Wells
987.35.26765
Geography
Place Made: Navajo Reservation, Window Rock, United States, North America
Period
20th century
Object Name
Recreational Artifacts: Toy, Doll
Research Area
Native American
Native American: Southwest
Not on view
Label
This typical loom setup captures an important moment. We see a mother weaving with her infant child next to her in a cradle board, while her older child sits behind her, watching her work while spinning the wool. This is how skills and values pass from generation to generation—through quiet observation and hands-on involvement. How does seeing this process impact your understanding of the woven rugs in this exhibition?
From the 2025 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 122, Weaving Ké, curated by Nizhonie Denetsosie-Gomez '25, Conroy Intern
Exhibition History
A Space for Dialogue 122, Weaving Ké, Nizhonie Denetsosie-Gomez '25, Conroy Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, July 25 - March 30, 2025.
Braves and Dolls: American Indian Costume in Miniature Dartmouth College Museum, Wilson Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 1969.
Historical Society of Montana, Helena, Montana, 1955.
Montana Club
Native American Studies [Display Case], The Sherman House, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 1998-present.
Native American Studies Exhibition, Bartlett Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, February 24, 1989-January 1, 1990.
Northern Montana College, Havre, Montana, 1954.
Provenance
Sale arranged through Loraine Morley Reynolds (1878-1962), New Mexico; sold to J. W. "Duke" Wellington (1896-1987), October 31, 1947; given to his daughter, Barbara Joan Wellington Wells, Barre, Vermont; given to present collection, 1987.
This record is part of an active database that includes information from historic documentation that may not have been recently reviewed. Information may be inaccurate or incomplete. We also acknowledge some language and imagery may be offensive, violent, or discriminatory. These records reflect the institution’s history or the views of artists or scholars, past and present. Our collections research is ongoing.
We welcome questions, feedback, and suggestions for improvement. Please contact us at: Hood.Collections@dartmouth.edu