Daisy Taugelchee

Daisy Taugelchee
Born	c. 1909 Navajo Nation
Died	(1990-09-08)September 8, 1990 Farmington, New Mexico
Nationality	American
Known for	Textile weaving
Style	Two 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

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

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

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

1. "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. "Object Monday: Two Grey Hills Navajo weaving". Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
4. Bulow, Ernie (13 January 2011). "Daisy Taugelchee: World's most famous rug weaver". Navajo Times. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
5. "Taugelchee, Daisy". The Grove encyclopedia of American art. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2011. ISBN 9780195335798.
6. "Obituaries". Farmington Daily Times. 10 September 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
7. 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. 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.