native american rugs history

handmade native american rugs

Most Navajo rugs do not have a fringe. By most, I mean 99.5%. If the piece you’re looking at has a fringe, you ask that seller how they determined that the piece was Navajo made. I don’t care if they think their sainted grandmother bought the rug from J.L. Hubbell, if it has fringe, it probably isn’t Navajo. Navajo rugs are warped in a continuous figure eight technique and the weaving fills the entire warp. The picture at left shows a rug being woven. If you look carefully at the ends of a Navajo rug, you will see the ends of these loops.

The process of weaving, to the Navajo, is a spiritual one. Each weaver puts her (or occasionally, his) soul and creative energy into the weaving of a rug. Though it may have a characteristic regional design, it will be the interpretation of the weaver that will make that rug its own enduring piece of art. While basic knowledge of regional characteristics is useful in the study of Navajo rug ID, in the Navajo nation today a rug with a regional name such as Two Grey Hills may have actually been woven by a weaver from a completely different region.

native american rugs dtla

native american rugs dtla

The centers of these rugs are quite elaborate withfeathers, arrows, and claw-like hooks extending from the points of diamonds andtriangles. Zigzags will be everywhere. are really no color rules, except they should harmonize.This design also contains a lot of diagonal lines. The name of the rug comes from a settlement in the NE cornerof the Navajo nation and means ‘Cottonwoods in a Circle.’ This is a very interestingrug and has some distinguishable design features. In the center of the rug willbe a rectangle that represents the center of the universe.

southwestern style rug

After being at war with white settlers as well as other Native tribes the Navajo honed a skill which allowed them to make blankets. The Navajo are very well-known for their weaving skills. PBS reported that they learned how to make wool and herd sheep in the 17th Century from Spanish immigrants. In the late 17th-century, they had learned from the Pueblo intricate weaving methods. The Navajo mastered weaving techniques and produced blankets of such high quality they could actually hold water. They could be used both as blankets as well as coats. Navajo blankets are a valued item because of their durability and versatility as well as their decorative patterns. The blankets became more expensive. The blankets were appreciated by those who had the resources, such as tribal chiefs.

southwestern style rug
native american indian area rugs
native american indian area rugs

Contemporary Navajo rugs, again depending on size, can range from UNDER $500 up to many thousands. The number of Navajo weavers working today is dwindling. Many of the young weavers are not learning this sacred Navajo weaving tradition, as it is a very time consuming and disciplined art form. When considering whether to purchase a Navajo Rug or not, know this is a way to encourage young Navajos to learn to weave and keep the traditional Navajo Rug weaving alive.

southwest carpet

Zapotec and Mexican knock-offs are known for their wide end borders. End cords are often added after the rug is woven. The adjacent cut warp ends will be buried together with the warp ends, as previously described. It is important to note that many knockoffs, regardless if they are of the same origin, copy designs straight from books. The Zapotec are the most prolific producers of fake Navajo rugs. Teotitlan de Valle, where Zapotec rugs are made, has a large industry dedicated to producing fakes and knockoffs. They create the most convincing fakes and make the highest number.

southwest carpet

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.