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Navajo rugs are usually made with a woolwarp. Although it is not easy to know what type of warp was used, it is possible. In general, however, wool and linen are much smoother than cotton and other fibers. Wool is, well wooly. As you can see, the wool has little fibers that stick out above the warp threads. Only one authentic Navajo rug (the Gallup Throw) is made with a cotton warp. Be aware that cotton was widely used for warp in late 1800's. Take into account the other indicators for authenticity, but consider the fiber content as part of your authentication. Below, you will see Jennie Slick as a master weaver with a small finished rugs. It's clear that this rug doesn't have fringe. And the side selvage rope contrasts nicely with the dark brown wool in the background. This rug is authentic Navajo. It is 100% wool with a fringe.

At the turn of the 20th century, there was growing interest in the rest of the world for all things Native American. Tourists from the rest of America, and beyond, would come to the Southwest in search of authentic souvenirs. The exotic designs caught on and remain popular to this day. Over the course of the 20th century, various types of designs sprang up, providing added variety to Navajo rugs, which became widely admired. Rugs made in the Navajo style are named for what region they originate from, or what influenced them. The following are the Navajo rug designs you will come across:

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how to identify native american rugs

According to another author sniffing the rug to check if it is wool is not a good idea. Many contemporary Navajo rugs made of wool have very little lanolin. Older rugs may be dirty or have other odors. It's quite amusing to watch potential buyers peruse a store's inventory, smelling the rugs. The buyer must be able differentiate between wool and other materials. There are scientific ways to test wool, but these are rarely practical for rug purchases from Indian art dealers or stores. Zapotec or other Mexican knockoffs have often wide end borders. They also include end cords. These are added after the rug's woven. As previously mentioned, the warp ends are buried next to the cut warp edges. It should be noted, however, that many knockoffs are made from designs taken directly out of books. Number one in the production of fake Navajo rugs is Zapotec. Teotitlan de Valle (Zapotec Rugs) is where most of their industry is concentrated. They specialize in making knock-offs and fakes. They create the most convincing fakes, and they make the highest quality.

bright native american rugs

bright native american rugs

Contemporary Navajo rugs, again depending on size, can range from UNDER $500 up to many thousands. The number of Navajo weavers working today is dwindling. Many of the young weavers are not learning this sacred Navajo weaving tradition, as it is a very time consuming and disciplined art form. When considering whether to purchase a Navajo Rug or not, know this is a way to encourage young Navajos to learn to weave and keep the traditional Navajo Rug weaving alive.

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By the early 1800s, Navajo weavers used wool exclusively, and became well known among both their Indian and Spanish neighbors for finely woven, nearly weatherproof blankets that became popular trade items. Traditional, Native-made blankets were wider than long (when the warp was held vertically) and were known as mantas.

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native american rugs free catalogs
native american rugs free catalogs

Ganado rugs always have a red background. The distinctivered color is often called a ‘Ganado Red.’ The design, based on a centraldiamond or two, will be in black, white, and grey in the center of the field. Simple geometric embellishments can be found on the edges and serrated or stair-steppeddiamonds, crosses, zigzags, and simple geometric shapes can be found in thecorners outside the central design. There is usually a dark outside border.These rugs can be quite large. The origin for the Ganado rug is the town of Gando, Arizona which is in thegeographic center of the Navajo Reservation where the famous Hubbell TradingPost stands today.

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.