Daisy Taugelchee

Daisy Taugelchee
Bornc. 1909
Navajo Nation
Died(1990-09-08)September 8, 1990
Farmington, New Mexico
NationalityAmerican
Known forTextile weaving
StyleTwo Grey Hills

Daisy Taugelchee (c. 1909 – September 8, 1990) was a Navajo weaver. The Denver Art Museum declared Taugelchee as "widely considered the most talented Navajo weaver and spinner who ever lived".[1] In 2004 one of her rugs was featured on a United States Postal Service stamp.

Biography[edit]

Various dates are given for Taugelchee's birth, including 1909,[2] circa 1910,[3] 1911,[4] and circa 1920.[5] In her obituary, her birth date was given as April 4, 1909.[6] She was born on the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona.[5]

Taugelchee's paternal grandmother was an accomplished weaver known as Sagebrush Hill Woman, herself one of the best of the early Toadlena/Two Grey Hills weavers.[4] Taugelchee's sister was also a well-regarded weaver.[7] Taugelchee's mother died in childbirth when she was six years old, and her father died when she was eleven.[4] In her youth, Daisy was known as Little Man's Daughter (Hastiin Yazhi Bitsi) and was given the name Daisy Marion Yazzie when she went to school.[4] She attended Albuquerque Indian School for a few years and Phoenix Indian School for another two years.[4]

In her twenties, she married a man named Chee Taugelchee.[4] They had three children, Chee Jr., Chester, and Janie Norris.[7]

She stopped weaving in her later years, but continued assisting the weaving projects of her daughter-in-law, Priscilla Taugelchee.[8] Taugelchee died September 8, 1990, in Farmington, New Mexico.[6]

Artwork[edit]

Taugelchee's style is reflective of the Two Grey Hills style, named for the Two Grey Hills trading post in northwestern New Mexico.[3] Like other weavers in this style, Taugelchee's works are characterized by intricate geometric designs woven with very finely handspun, primarily undyed wool.[3] She and other master weavers attained a yarn count of 140 threads per inch.[9] The designs often feature complex stepped or serrated diamond of several layers, enclosed in a border or multiple borders.[4] The sheep in the area grow wool in a variety of tan, gray, brown, and gold colors; usually only black wool is enhanced with dye.[4]

She was reputedly the highest paid weaver in the world in the 1950s.[10] Her works were the most expensive rugs in the trade and she sometimes received thousands of dollars for a single tapestry.[4] Taugelchee had a close relationship with Charles Herring, the owner of the Two Grey Hills trading post, who encouraged weavers to push themselves artistically.[4]

Taugelchee regularly won first and grand prizes (best in show) at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.[11] For forty years, she won consistently at the show, including taking both first and grand prizes in 1946.[4] Her fine weaving ability led to several new classifications being instituted at the ceremonial.[4]

Recognition and legacy[edit]

Taugelchee taught many weavers her craft, as well as inspiring others with her skill and artistic vision.[4] She also demonstrated her technique and lectured throughout the United States.[8]

One of Taugelchee's tapestries was featured by the United States Postal Service on a 37 cent stamp in 2004 as part of a set titled "Art of the American Indian."[12] The work featured on the stamp was acquired by the Denver Art Museum in 1948; the rug required six miles of yarn to make and was one of Taugelchee's most difficult pieces.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Rug 1947-1948". Denver Art Museum. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Home: Native People in the Southwest Label Copy". Heard Museum Guild. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Object Monday: Two Grey Hills Navajo weaving". Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Bulow, Ernie (13 January 2011). "Daisy Taugelchee: World's most famous rug weaver". Navajo Times. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Taugelchee, Daisy". The Grove encyclopedia of American art. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2011. ISBN 9780195335798.
  6. ^ a b "Obituaries". Farmington Daily Times. 10 September 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b Schaaf, Gregory (2001). American Indian textiles : 2,000 artist biographies, c. 1800-present : with value/price guide featuring over 20 years of auction records. Santa Fe, New Mexico: CIAC Press. p. 226. ISBN 9780966694840.
  8. ^ a b Dockstader, Frederick J. (2003). "Taugelchee, Daisy". Grove Art Online. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t083472. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. ^ Davis, Mary B., ed. (1996). Native America in the twentieth century : an encyclopedia. London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis. p. 59. ISBN 9781135638542.
  10. ^ "Toadlena - Two Grey Hills". Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Daisy Taugelchee, World's most famous Navajo Rug Weaver". Navajo People. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. ^ "37c Navajo Weaving stamp - United States Postal Service". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
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