native american woven rugs

native american rugs tucson

It can be both tedious and difficult. These rugs can only be made by handlooms, which are manually operated. Back in those days, weavers used to set their looms up between two trees. Modern weavers now use poles as opposed to trees. They can sit on a small stool or on the floor while weaving. The weavers create layers by overlapping the threads at different stages to make a perfect pattern. These rugs have distinctive patterns that people recognize because they feature black and white stripes. You will notice the difference in the Navajo rugs wool and material. The Navajos produced high-quality hand-spun yarn from their own sheep, which they used to make the rugs.

native american woven rugs

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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. While shopping for rugs, you might have noticed that the price point is different for all. Some are well under the affordable range, while others go above and beyond.

5 x 7 native american rugs suitable for office use

The weavers around Two Grey Hills developed very complex geometric patterns, usually based on a large, hooked central diamond with multiple geometric borders. They also were known for very finely spun wool of small diameter which they used to make very thin, dense, and tightly woven rugs that are certainly the greatest technical achievements in the history of Navajo rug making. Many of the women who weave for nearby Taodlena Trading Post carry on this tradition of quality. The most finely woven rugs are often called tapestry rugs. Beginning in the 1920s, weavers and traders developed several new regional styles based on a revival of early banded patterns and the predominant use of vegetal dyes.

how to identify native american rugs and blankets

how to identify native american rugs and blankets

Typically, the Yeis are highly stylized figures with elongated bodies, short straight legs, and heads facing the viewer. Yebechais have more human proportions, usually face sideways, and have legs bent in a dancing motion. The most common types of Yei and Yeibechai rugs feature multiple figures oriented parallel with the weft threads so that the rug appears wider than long when the figures are upright. Two distinct styles emerged in the 1920s. Those made in the area of Shiprock, New Mexico tend to have light colored backgrounds with no border, and often use brightly colored commercial yarns. Yeis and Yeibechais made in the central part of the reservation (northeastern Arizona) tend to have dark backgrounds with simple borders.

native american style rugs

The rarest early blankets date back to the mid-1800s. There are only 50 known examples.

native american style rugs
south west rug
south west rug

Many of the women who weave for nearby Taodlena Trading Post carry on this tradition of quality. The most finely woven rugs are often called tapestry rugs. Beginning in the 1920s, weavers and traders developed several new regional styles based on a revival of early banded patterns and the predominant use of vegetal dyes. The impetus behind this trend came primarily from Anglo collectors, traders, and government agencies that had a sincere desire to upgrade the quality of Navajo weaving and return to traditional, pre-rug patterns. The resulting rugs were not literal copies of older pieces, but were creative variations on banded designs using a wide palette of newly developed vegetal dye colors made from indigenous plants, as well as new, subtly colored chemical dyes.

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Natural wool colors are used, except the red and theblack may have some commercial dye. With this rug, the grey can be brownish oreven tan, depending upon the fleece of the sheep used. These rugs are woven of natural, undyed, hand spun wool withdesigns of white, black, and brown. These weavers card together wool fromdifferent sheep to produce subtle shades of the white, black, and brown. It is possible to find several different shades of gray, brown, and tan in thesame rug. The wool for the Two Grey Hillsrugs is often fine and may require more weaving time, making them more costly. They usually have a plain, dark border. They may also have a spiritline.

southwestern rugs depot

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.