native-american rugs wool

vintage original native american rugs

The best way to identify a genuine Navajo rug is to look for the warp and selvage lines. These lines are often continuous, although the weaver can vary. Fake rugs can be harder to spot, particularly if they are priced at less than $200. The warp threads in a fake rug will also have ridges on the end since they are made of wool rather than cotton.

If you are in the market for a new rug, you may want to check its authenticity first. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act prohibits the sale of American Indian crafts that are not authentic. While a good seller will tell you how long it has been in business, you should be careful to avoid buying a counterfeit rug. This law applies to Native American rugs and blankets, as well as all other American Indian products marketed in the U.S.

southwest rugs

Most Navajo rugs don't have a fringe. Most Navajo rugs do not have fringes. This is 99.5%. Ask the seller if the fringe on the piece you are looking at is Navajo-made. It doesn't matter if the seller believes their grandmother bought it from J. L. Hubbell. If it has fringe it is probably not Navajo. Navajo rugs have a continuous figure 8 weave and are warped in a continuous weaving technique. A rug is being weaved in the picture to the left. These loops can be seen at the ends if you carefully look at a Navajo rug.

southwest runner

southwest runner

The Mexican imitation Navajo rugs’ end borders are typically wider than those on a real Navajo rug. Side borders can be even wider. If the rug's fringe at one end is not a Navajo rug, it could be a fake. Wool (the standard material for making Navajo rugs) is the preferred choice. There are a few authentic Navajo rugs manufactured using synthetic materials such like acrylic. If you find one, you could consider it a Navajo woman weaving a knockoff. It doesn't seem to matter if this is real. Some imitations use wool while others use polyester. Some imitations of Pakistani or Indian wool use a blend from acrylic and polyester. Contrary to what another author claims, smelling the rug to determine whether it is made of wool is ineffective. Most modern Navajo rugs' wool contains very little lanolin.

native american rugs downtown los angeles

Navajo rugs are often made with a side-selvage cord. To maintain a straight edge, Navajo weavers use a twisted side-selvage cord. Although a fringe is more reliable than a side-selvage cord, the presence of a cord can be a strong indicator that the cord is Navajo. Mexican weavers use three to four warps, or even one very thick warp or rope, to keep their pieces straight. You can see the fringe on a rug that has outside warps that are visible thicker. This is evidence that the warp ends were sewn back in.

native american rugs downtown los angeles
pacific northwest native american rugs
pacific northwest native american rugs

Many people who would never visit the Reservation appreciated the exotic designs and laborious handcraftsmanship of Navajo weaving. Proponents of the Arts & Crafts design movement found that the bold, geometric designs harmonized beautifully with their simple furniture and handmade accessories. By 1896, C.N. Cotton, a trader in Gallup, New Mexico had issued a catalogue in an effort to expand his market to eastern retailers. Other traders, most notably Lorenzo Hubble at Ganado, Arizona and J.B. Moore at Crystal, New Mexico, followed up with their own catalogues in the early years of the new century, focusing specifically on rugs. Navajo weaving had quickly gained a national audience.

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.