vintage native american rugs 80" x 19 1/2"

indian design rugs

Navajo textile expert, Dr. J. Mark Sublette explains how Navajo blankets can be dated. This video provides an overview about the characteristics of authentic Navajo blankets. The Navajo does not make all rugs that look Native American or Southwestern. Mexico has a long tradition weaving rugs. If you don't know where to look, it can be confusing. Dr. J., a Navajo expert and Hispanic textile specialist, gives his advice in this video. Mark Sublette provides tips on how you can avoid common pitfalls when determining if a weaving is an authentic Navajo rug/blanket.

Thewool 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. The Burntwater rugs display a combination of earth tones andpastels. Colors such as brown, sienna,mustard, and rust are accented with pale colors such as rose, green, blue,white, and lilac. The designs can use geometric spirals, head-to-head triangles, stepped diagonals,and multiple borders.

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Navajo rugs are highly sought-after hand-woven textiles that can command a high price. However, it is not uncommon to find sellers who use the term “Navajo” for textiles that look like authentic Navajo rugs but are not Navajo made. Knowing the difference is important to avoid overpaying for textiles that actually have much less value. Most indicators need to be observed in person, making online buying more challenging.

native american hand woven rugs

native american hand woven rugs

The Chinle style came before theother 2 banded styles. This was a revival of the borderless and banded designsof the Early Classic Period of Navajo weaving. Aniline dyes of red and blackare used for highlights. They have muted pastels with natural greys, whites,golds, and greens. Occasionally they may also have bright and bold black,white, and red. The Chinle style originated in the town of Chinle but is now woven everywhere in theNavajo nation. Because of its simplicity, it takes less time to weave and istherefore one of the most commonly woven rugs.

vintage native american rugs 80" x 19 1/2"

antique native american rugs auction

These early weavings made before the 1870s are very rare, bringing tens of thousands of dollars-or more-from collectors and museums. The so-called Chief’s Blanket is a specific style of manta that went through a distinct design evolution. First Phase blankets were made from about 1800 to 1850 and consisted simply of brown (or blue) and white stripes with the top, bottom and center stripes usually being wider than the others. Second Phase blankets included small red rectangles at the center and ends of the darker stripes and were made about 1840 to 1870. The Third Phase type, between 1860 and 1880, saw the addition of stepped or serrated diamonds of color to the center and ends of the wide stripes. In weavings of the Fourth Phase, made from 1870 through the early 1900s, diamond motifs became larger and more elaborate, often overtaking the stripes as primary design elements. Revivals of chief’s blankets-usually made as rugs-have been popular since the 1950s.

antique native american rugs auction
southwest area rug
southwest area rug

The Yeibichai rug is a depiction of ceremonies in which human dancers (usually 6) impersonate Yeis (the holy people). These dancers will usually be in profile with one leg bent as if dancing. They can be men or the men alternate with women. In these rugs, you may find a medicine man administering to a patient. Other figures may also be included such as a clown and a lead dancer. The Yeibechais are specifically participants of a particular Navajo healing ceremony. Although it is usually a nighttime ceremony, the rug usually does not portray a night scene. The design of this style of Navajo rug usually portrays a cornstalk or a tree growing out of a basket. There will be brightly colored birds, some recognizable such as Cardinals or Woodpeckers. Some will be flying, others perched or sitting around the basket. Often, butterflies, small animals such as rabbits and squirrels, as well as bright flowers and vines will be present.

8 x 11 southwest native american rugs

The Wide Ruins style is the most elaborate and usually themost finely woven of the banded rug styles. It evolved from the Chinle. These rugs will have broad strips of plain color, some with geometric designs and with verynarrow bands with delicate motifs, combined with thin, straight lines ofcontrasting colors. The shapes found within the broader bands are oftenoutlined with a different color. The main colors are browns, olives, maroons, and mustardsaccented with a color such as white, red, or black. This rug originates from the Wide Ruins, Pine Springs, Burntwater, and Standing Rock region of the Navajo Nation.

8 x 11 southwest native american rugs

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.