native american design rugs

native american rugs amazon

Second Phase blankets included small red rectangles at the center and ends of the darker stripes and were made about 1840 to 1870. The Third Phase type, between 1860 and 1880, saw the addition of stepped or serrated diamonds of color to the center and ends of the wide stripes. In weavings of the Fourth Phase, made from 1870 through the early 1900s, diamond motifs became larger and more elaborate, often overtaking the stripes as primary design elements. Revivals of chief’s blankets-usually made as rugs-have been popular since the 1950s. A watershed in Navajo weaving came in the 1860s with the incarceration of about 8000 men, women and children at Bosque Redondo reservation in eastern New Mexico.

Authenticity, Regional characteristics, documentation, and price are just some of the things to look for when buying Native American rugs. Read on to learn how to tell the difference between a traditional rug and a counterfeit one. Then you can make a well-informed decision on whether the piece you’ve just purchased is genuine. There are several other things to look for, too, like the color of the rug and its price.

indian rugs ebay

These rugs are made with high-quality wool and yarn. This ensures that they will last many years. Because of their fragile construction, it is recommended to wash them by hand. The vibrant colors of Navajo rugs come mainly from natural pigmentation or vegetable dyes. These colors will last longer than expected and won't get ruined by washing. They can live for many years if you keep them clean and in good condition. Actually, there are four kinds of Navajo rugs. These include Ganado, Two Grey Hills and Klagetoh. The design difference determines which category is used. These two categories have the most simple designs, while the Ganado is more complex than the Klagetoh. The Navajo sheavers chose four colors to reflect their culture and spirituality. These colors are: yellow, blue, black, and yellow. These colors were used to symbolize their tribe via the rugs.

vintage native american rugs 80

vintage native american rugs 80" x 19 1/2"

Traditional, Native-made blankets were wider than long (when the warp was held vertically) and were known as mantas. The Spanish introduced the longer than wide serape form that was easier to make on European-style looms. Mantas and serapes were generally used in the same way: wrapped around the shoulders with one long edge turned over as a “collar.” However, mantas also were used by women as wrap-around dresses.

native american rugs orange

Yei pattern rugs feature images of the Holy People drawn from ceremonial sand paintings but do not recreate an entire painting. Typically, the Yeis are highly stylized figures with elongated bodies, short straight legs, and heads facing the viewer. Yebechais have more human proportions, usually face sideways, and have legs bent in a dancing motion. The most common types of Yei and Yeibechai rugs feature multiple figures oriented parallel with the weft threads so that the rug appears wider than long when the figures are upright. Two distinct styles emerged in the 1920s. Those made in the area of Shiprock, New Mexico tend to have light colored backgrounds with no border, and often use brightly colored commercial yarns. Yeis and Yeibechais made in the central part of the reservation (northeastern Arizona) tend to have dark backgrounds with simple borders.

native american rugs orange
yellow and gray native american rugs
yellow and gray native american rugs

Besides, the Navajo rugs had borders on the corners representing their heritage, culture, and spirituality. These borders portrayed the tales of their life and traditions through the small details on them. As these rugs are made with premium quality wool and yarn, they ensure high durability so that you can use them for several years. It is advised to clean them by hand rather than by washing machine because of their delicate construction. The vibrant colors of the Navajo rugs are mostly naturally pigmented or colored by vegetable dyes. So, these colors last longer than you expect and won’t wash out while cleaning. If you maintain them well by properly cleaning and keeping them under enough sunlight, they can also last for decades. Actually, there are four categories of Navajo rugs which are popular among people throughout the world. They are Ganado, Two Grey Hills, Klagetoh, and Burntwater.

native american design rugs
arizona native american rugs

Nevertheless, some weavers still practice the more difficult twill weaves, including rare two-faced weavings which have a different twill pattern on each side. In the 1960s, weavers in the area of Coal Mine Mesa in Arizona popularized an unusual technique called Raised Outline in which the joints between color areas are thicker and appear to rise above the surface of the weaving. Most raised outline rugs also use the technique of alternating single weft threads of two contrasting colors. When tightly battened, they give the appearance of very thin stripes running parallel to each warp thread. As with any collecting specialty, there is so much to learn about Navajo weaving that it can seem overwhelming for the beginner.

arizona native american rugs

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.