native american rugs appraisal

The rugs that are from Navajo are considered to be some of the best-made and most colorful textile products. As the name suggests, these rugs originated in the Navajo tribe. This tribe settled in the southwestern part of the United States in the 10th and 11th centuries. And they became well established by 1500. In the early 1800s, the tribal women of Navajo started to weave chief’s blankets. These blankets were widely traded, making the Indians from the northern Great Plains to the Mexican border wear them. Although, the blankets were not a symbol of chieftainship. But they were a symbol of affluence and power.

Compared to the other types of rugs, the weaving method is a bit different which is both a tricky and exhausting process. Because, these rugs are made with handlooms which are operated manually. Back in that time, the weavers used to set up their looms between two trees. But nowadays, they use poles instead of trees and sit on a small tool or just on the floor while weaving on the loom. The weavers overlap the threads in several stages for a perfect base pattern and then put layers of other designs over them. Often black and white stripes on them are known as distinctive patterns by which people can recognize these rugs. If you notice the wool and fabric of the Navajo rugs, you can surely tell the difference from other types of rugs. The Navajos made high-quality hand-spun wool from their own sheep for using on the rugs. Besides, they used a special type of yarn named Saxony, which was silky and naturally tinted. So, these rugs were made with all-natural components, which ensured the high quality of the Navajo rugs. Besides, it was difficult to spin these wools, which made these rugs so expensive as a price of the exhausting work and effort of the weavers. Some unique designs of the Navajo rugs made them distinctive and special. These rugs hold different types of geometric patterns on the surface, which are quite unique from most other rugs. As we have discussed before, the Navajo weavers overlap different yarns on their handlooms for several strips of design. These stripes were extremely thin but distinctive among the hundred other stripes on the same rug.

Authentic Navajo rugs are made by hand, often over a period of several years, and are usually made of quality sheep wool. They can cost thousands of dollars and are meant to be heirlooms for generations to come. Authentic Navajo rugs have unique designs, such as the Teec Nos Pas rugs from northeastern Arizona. This uniqueness makes each piece more beautiful and adds to the price tag.