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Navajo saddle-blankets are a form of Navajo weaving that is unusual. Medicine Man Gallery's owner, Dr. J. Sublette, discusses these remarkable Navajo saddle blankets in this article. Mark Sublette discusses these incredible Navajo Navajo quilts that were on display at the gallery in 2009. Topics covered include style, form, appeal, and collector appeal.

By the end of the period, saddle blankets frequently had patterns only at the corners or edges since only those parts of the blanket were visible when in use. Double saddle blankets sometimes had a different pattern on each half. Fancy Saddle Blankets, often featuring bright colors, elaborate patterns and fringes, were probably more for show than function. Evidence suggests they often were tied to the saddle skirt behind the cantle rather than being placed under the saddle. During the first several decades of the twentieth century, weavers near railroad stops and tourist centers made small, loosely woven, pictorial mats. Now known as Gallup Throws, these inexpensive items were a favorite, easy to transport souvenir among visitors to the southwest. Pictorial and geometric “rugs,” too small for use on the floor and typically made with commercially spun and dyed yarns, remain a staple of the souvenir trade to this day.

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Pictorials made before the 1940s are relatively uncommon and usually command a premium price from collectors. After World War II, however, more weavers began making pictorial weavings, frequently filling a small rug with a single scene. Types that have been especially popular since the 1970s include landscape scenes which usually feature red cliffs or mountains, blue sky and clouds, juniper and pine trees, hogans, farm animals, trucks, and people. Another common format is called the “Tree of Life” pattern, consisting of a corn stalk rising from a Navajo wedding basket, with birds adorning the leaves of the cornstalk. Despite the obvious symbolism of patterns such as the “Tree of Life,” most pictorial motifs had no specific religious meaning; they simply were objects common in the culture or of special interest to the weaver.

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Even though fringe is not present, it does not necessarily mean you are looking for a Navajo rug. Mexican weavers might tuck in the ends of the warp to make it appear continuous, even though it may not be. In such cases, the weaving tends to be thicker at its ends, then thins out.

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All of these have a meaning, which tells what the weaver was thinking about when they started to weave the rug. It is one of the things that makes these special. So, why are Navajo rugs expensive? The excellent craftsmanship, the history behind the rugs, weaving technique, materials, and other methods increases the price point of the Navajo rugs. It will be tough for you to make a one-to-one comparison of an authentic Navajo rug with something that came out of a modern factory. For that reason, if you are eyeing a Navajo rug, you are planning to get a hold of a piece of art with a rich history behind it and is second to none.

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native american rugs with a h woven in the corner
native american rugs with a h woven in the corner

The process of weaving, to the Navajo, is a spiritual one. Each weaver puts her (or occasionally, his) soul and creative energy into the weaving of a rug. Though it may have a characteristic regional design, it will be the interpretation of the weaver that will make that rug its own enduring piece of art. While basic knowledge of regional characteristics is useful in the study of Navajo rug ID, in the Navajo nation today a rug with a regional name such as Two Grey Hills may have actually been woven by a weaver from a completely different region.

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There will usually be a dark border which can be embellishedon one side with ‘teeth.’ Clouds, water beetles, arrows, feathers, andgeometric designs are throughout. A pictorial usuallyfeatures items in the daily life of a weaver. There can be landscapes with animals, plants, etc., even tractors. If there are borders, they will usually be dark. These are pictorial rugs that show ceremonial sandpaintings.They are square and can contain supernatural figures with magical trappings. They can also include common elements such as snakes, feathers, lizards, andwhirling logs. Because these rugs are sacred, only a few Navajo weavers arewilling or able to produce them. To protect these individuals from spiritualharm, special ceremonial sings must be conducted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, please let us know within 3 days from when you placed your order.
As soon as your order ships, you will receive an email with tracking info and then following emails with shipping updates.
We accept all major credit or debit cards. You can also pay with your PayPal account.
Just send us an email with your order number and we’ll send you instructions.  We will give you a full refund within the first 60 days after your order ships out.  After that, we have to charge a 25% restocking fee. You are responsible for return shipping fees unless you are swapping for a different design or size.
Yes! We can ship anywhere in the world. Please send us an email with your address before placing an order outside of the US and Canada though. We need to partially charge you for shipping when you place your order.
All of our rugs are made to order and go through a rigorous inspection process. You can typically expect your rug to be shipped 2 weeks from when you make your purchase.
We find rug pads are not necessary to protect your flooring. However, some people choose to use rug pads to prevent their rug from sliding around.