There is a company that has a line of more convincing fakes made in India. They sell these rugs as "inspired by Navajo rug weaving traditions" and are an attempt "to reproduce the exact feel, texture, weave and look of the Navajo hand-woven rug." Their tag line is, "The Most Authentic Reproductions Based on the Navajo Weaving Tradition." These bogus Navajo rugs are complete with side cords, section lines and end finishes that can fool you because they are very convincing.
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: These rugs do not have a border on them. They feature horizontal bands and are made using natural vegetable dyes. The stripes also usually include added design elements, including arrows, stars, triangles, and diamonds.
This article features Dr. J. Mark Sublette will discuss Navajo rugs as they were in 1920s to present. This article includes information about history, dyes, regional styles and trading posts like Navajo Crystals Wide Ruins Burntwater and pictorials. This article discusses the exemplary authentic Navajo Blankets included in Masterpieces from the Loom, an exhibition held at Medicine Man Gallery in 2011. The following topics are covered: Navajo Chiefs blankets. Transitional blankets. Germantown pictorials. And other early Navajo styles of blanket.
Nevertheless, the great variety of interpretations suggests that meanings were assigned by traders and collectors, not by the Navajo themselves. The storm pattern’s precise origin is uncertain-one story suggests it was developed by a trader on the western side of the Reservation-but the weavers at Crystal developed this concept into one of the most popular and lasting of all Navajo rug patterns. Not far from Crystal was the Two Grey Hills trading post, known for weavings in which no dyes were used. Instead, weavers carefully combed and spun different natural colors of yarn to yield a beautiful range of creamy whites, tans, browns, and greys. (To get a solid black color, weavers sometimes would overdye dark brown wool with black dye.)
There is one exception to the additional indicators of price, material and fringe. Gallup throws, which are woven in the Gallup, New Mexico area, are small textiles measuring about 18 by 24 inches. Gallup throws are made with a cotton warp, and the weaving is cut off and knotted, creating a fringe on one side only. Typical prices for these textiles range from $40 to $50, as of publication. The only other authentic Navajo rugs that feature fringe are Germantown rugs. These rare antique rugs have fringe that was added on after the weaving process was completed.
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.
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. Klagetoh rugs are similar to Ganado rugs. The background,however, is grey. The center design is usually an elongated diamond with black,white, and red colors.