Taking care of your Navajo rug will ensure that it can maintain its vibrant colors and stay in great shape for a long time. Here are some tips for caring for your rug. There are special cleaners for wool rugs that you can use to get rid of minor stains. When you follow these guidelines, you should have no little to no issues keeping your rug pristine. Navajo rugs are unique and beautiful high-quality rugs with a rich history. It's no wonder that they have become so popular within the past century. You can now enjoy the beauty of a Navajo as well, by buying one, as mentioned earlier. These rugs are ideal for decorating your home and bringing some authentic Navajo culture into your life.
native american pink and grey print area rugsThere will usually be 3bands of wavy lines or a solid color between one or two more complex bands,which are patterned with motifs such as squash blossoms, arrows, stars, crosses, triangles, etc. Muted earthen colors such as rust, grey, and rich brown, aswell as pastel greens, pinks, or yellow are common. This design was said to be influenced by the serape blanketsworn in New Mexico.The design is usually a simple geometric shape such as a chevron, diamond,serrate, or triangle, etc. These are either repeated throughout the rug or as a border or evencan appear in blocks set against a solid background. The design will appearquite busy and can have a combination of colors.
A more complicated type of design was derived from Hispanic Saltillo serapes which featured brightly colored patterns of serrated diamond shapes. Weavers frequently outlined the small serrated patterns with a single yarn of contrasting color to heighten the visual complexity and impact. This patterning technique became known as the Eyedazzler and continues to be popular to the present day. Both the banded and diamond pattern homespun blankets of the late 19th century are generically known as Transitional Blankets because they signaled the end of Navajo blanket production and ushered in the era of the Navajo rug.
There are also distinctive features of Zapotec rugs, such as the fringe on the bottom of the rug. Although similar in style to Navajo rugs, Zapotec rugs are difficult to recognize due to their overlapping patterns and colors. They also have less pattern than a typical Navajo piece of the same size. A few things to look for in a Navajo rug can help you differentiate between the two.
They are so significant because they contain a bit of history. It is the reason they are more expensive. We've already touched on the history of these rugs. However, this is not the only reason these rugs are rare and more expensive than the rest. There are also other reasons. Authentic Navajo rugs woven on a Navajo Loom by hand. The standard sizes are: 5x8, 4,x6, and 6,x9. These common sizes will show that rugs are typically woven in rectangular shapes. Some large sizes may take several years to weave in this configuration.
Continuous warp, lazy lines and selvage lines are three of the best ways to help identify an authentic Navajo rug. The price of the rug should also be considered. Be wary of Navajo rugs priced at $200 or less, as this can be a clear indicator of a fake. Almost all Navajo rugs are made from wool threads, which appear rougher in texture than cotton or linen. Fringe and ridges along the edge of the rug typically indicate a fake. Warp threads that have been cut and run back into the rug will create ridges on the ends. Almost all Navajo rugs are made without fringe.
Navajo rugs do not have ridges at the ends. On occasion, someone who is trying to pass a rug off as Navajo or just make it look more Navajo will take the time to actually run the warps back into the rug to eliminate the fringe, but this creates ridges in the ends of the piece. If you separate the weft yarns slightly, you’ll see the doubled up warps. The next time I see a good example of this, I’ll add a picture of it. This is very common in some Ye’i rug copies that are done in Mexico.
