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.
black and white native american pattern round rugsAccording 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.
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.
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.
Any handmade imitation Navajo rug made in the United States would probably be woven with the firm intentions of deceiving the buyer. There would hardly be any other reason for a American non-Indian to put in the time and effort required to weave a convincing fake. Because of the economics and the work required, there are very few US made fake Navajo rugs. Navajo rugs are highly sought-after hand-woven textiles that can command a high price. However, it is not uncommon to find sellers who use the term “Navajo” for textiles that look like authentic Navajo rugs but are not Navajo made. Knowing the difference is important to avoid overpaying for textiles that actually have much less value. Most indicators need to be observed in person, making online buying more challenging.
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:
The Burntwater rugs display a combination of earth tones andpastels. Colors such as brown, sienna,mustard, and rust are accented with pale colors such as rose, green, blue,white, and lilac. The designs can use geometric spirals, head-to-head triangles, stepped diagonals,and multiple borders. The Burntwater style is newer and is basically an expansionof the traditional TwoGrey Hillsdesigns by weavers in the Wide Ruins/Burntwater area south of Gando.
