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. Serapes only rarely had a slit in the middle for the head which made them ponchos. Navajo weavers made both the manta and serape styles during the eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries along with shirts, dresses, breechcloths, and sashes.
By the 1890s, the internal demand for Navajo weaving was almost non-existent. To make matters worse a widespread financial panic seized the US economy in 1893, depressing commodity prices for the raw wool that had come to replace weavings as the Navajo’s primary trade item. During this difficult time, several traders realized that there could be an external market for Navajo weavings made as rugs rather than blankets. The nascent market for Indian rugs was fueled at the turn of the century by a growing national interest in Native peoples and artifacts.
This piece of history that attaches to the rugs makes them so important. And it is one of the leading reasons they have such a higher price tag. We have already discussed a little bit about the history attached to these rugs. But that is not the only reason they are unique and relatively more expensive than the others. There are other reasons as well. Authentic Navajo rugs are woven by hand on a Navajo Loom. The standard sizes include 5×8, 4×6, and 6×9. If you look at these common sizes, you can understand that these rugs are generally woven in a rectangular configuration. And in this configuration, some of the large sizes can take years to weave.
The price of a Navajo rug is determined by several factors, including the fineness of the yarn, the design, and its size. Traditionally, Navajo rugs were woven on the same simple loom for over 300 years. Their intricate, balanced designs are testimony to the weaver’s skill. Though reproductions are often made in Mexico, they are still recognizable as Navajo rugs. Navajo rug ID begins with the ability to recognize some basic regional characteristics. It is important to remember, however, that every rug, like it's weaver, is an individual.
Navajo rugs often have what Indian art dealers refer to as "lazy lines". It is an insulting and inaccurate term that will soon be replaced by "Section Line." A section line is a line that a weaver uses to work on one section of a rug, and not the entire rug. She weaves one section and then weaves another. This creates the diagonal line. Section lines are not common in all Navajo rugs. The border at the end of Mexican imitation Navajo rugs is generally wider than those in a real Navajo rug. Side borders can also be wider.
These rugs were admired by tourists for their authenticity and design. These rugs attracted tourists from all over the region because they were representative of the Navajo's cultural heritage. The Navajo was one of the most skilled tribes in ancient America when the rugs began to spread internationally. These rugs became pieces of Native American art when they began to spread internationally in the 20th century. These rugs were made by the Navajos for survival purposes only before the 15th century. These rugs are now one of the most sought-after decorative pieces in the home. There are many factors that go into the creation of Navajo rugs. These rugs can be expensive and luxurious. These are some common reasons that make these rugs expensive. The weaving process is different from other types of rug. It is both difficult and exhausting.