How to Date an Indian Blanket

Look for a label. Many companies other than Pendleton made early versions of Indian blankets, but ceased production prior to World War I. Some of these early manufacturers were J. Capps & Sons, also known as American Indian Blanket Mills, Buell Manufacturing Company, Racine Woolen Mills who specialized in fringed blankets worn as shawls, Shuler & Benninghofen, Oregon City Woolen Mills, Knight Woolen Mills and Pendleton -- the only company still producing Indian blankets.

Check the material content. All early Indian trade blankets were made from wool. Pendleton offered two lines -- Cayuse and Blackfoot, which were budget lines made from remanufactured wool as opposed to virgin wool.

Look at the corners of a Pendleton. Pendletons are the most difficult blankets to date, since they are still in production. However, all Pendletons made after 1908 have square corners. Rounded corner blankets were made between 1896 and 1908.

Pay attention to colors used in the blankets. Primary colors, like red, black, blue and deep green were commonly used in the earliest blankets. Browns and soft greens are frequent in later versions of the blankets. Primary colored blankets are highly sought after by collectors.

Look carefully at the pattern of a Navajo Chiefs Blanket in order to date it. Phase One blankets are the oldest and most valued, made in the early 1800s. Stripes of indigo blue were alternated with white and brown. Phase Two added 12 boxes to the striped pattern. Phase Three saw the addition of nine diamond or cross shapes to the boxes and stripes, and were made from 1860 to 1880. Phase Four, made after 1870, saw the diamond shapes becoming the central focus.