round native american rugs

However, the absence of fringe does not necessarily mean that you are looking at a Navajo blanket or rug. Mexican weavers sometimes tuck in the warp ends to make it appear continuous even though it isn't. These cases result in the weaving being thicker at the ends, and then thinner out. Second, be aware of the presence or absence of lazy lines. A lazy line is a 45-degree angle, diagonal line that forms when the Navajo weaver creates a rug. One can help identify authentic Navajo rugs. However, knock-off rugs may also have similar lines. As the weaver works, a lazy line forms. The weaver is seated in front of the loom, and begins weaving the weft yarn into the desired pattern. The weaver then shifts to another section. It creates beautiful lines in the rug's body by working this way.

Because these rugs are sacred, only a few Navajo weavers arewilling or able to produce them. To protect these individuals from spiritualharm, special ceremonial sings must be conducted. These rugs are very rare and thus very valuable and are producedin the Two Grey Hillsand Shiprock areas. Yeis (yays) are the Holy People (supernatural) who cancommunicate between the Navajo people and their gods. They are usually shown face-frontand are tall, slender figures carrying rattles, cornstalks, etc. There are someelements of some sandpaintings but these rugs are not used in ceremonies. Any combination and amount of colors may be used. They can be commerciallyor vegetal dyed and contain different numbers of Yei figures. Sometimes thesefigures are surrounded by the guardian rainbow Yei symbol.

In an effort to subdue and “domesticate” the Indians, the US Army slaughtered the Navajo’s sheep and destroyed their crops and homes. The government allowed weaving to continue during the internment by replacing the Navajo’s home-grown wool with factory-made yarns from Europe and the eastern United States. After the Navajo returned to their homelands in 1868, the US government continued to provide commercial yarns as part of their “annuity” support for the Navajo people. In the 1870s, licensed Indian Traders began supplying weavers with factory-made yarns brightly colored with aniline (chemical) dyes. Blankets made of these colorful yarns are generically called Germantown weavings after the town in Pennsylvania where much of the yarn was produced.