vintage native american rugs

navajo woven blanket

What makes Navajo textiles so amazing is the simple tools the weavers used for creating them. The looms themselves are simple and often built out of doors under a tree. Patterns were and are still plotted in the weaver’s brain. However, to achieve a harmonious design it requires multidimensional thinking and expert artistic ability. All Navajo weavings are hand-woven and require a lot of skill. As is tradition, the weaver and his family raised the sheep. Taking care of the flock was a family responsibility. Early Navajo weavings had special wool made from Churro sheep's breed. This is well-known for its silky, long fibers. Later, as Navajos began making rugs out of wool, they started to include other varieties of sheep in their flocks.

Rugs are often woven in a rectangular format. The size and price of a rug will depend on its dimensions. Large Navajo Rugs take 1, 2, and 3 years to produce. They are harder to find, which means they have a higher price. Smaller Navajo rugs start around $100 and go up from that point. Antique Navajo rugs may be anywhere from 1,000 to many thousand, depending on the size. Historic Navajo rugs with provenance can also have value, such as a prior collection or publication. Depending upon the size, contemporary Navajo rugs are available from UNDER $500 all the way up to many 1,000.

vintage native american rugs

southwestern rugs discount

Authentic Navajo rugs are made by hand, often over a period of several years, and are usually made of quality sheep wool. They can cost thousands of dollars and are meant to be heirlooms for generations to come. Authentic Navajo rugs have unique designs, such as the Teec Nos Pas rugs from northeastern Arizona. This uniqueness makes each piece more beautiful and adds to the price tag.

southwest rugs discount

southwest rugs discount

Nevertheless, some weavers still practice the more difficult twill weaves, including rare two-faced weavings which have a different twill pattern on each side. In the 1960s, weavers in the area of Coal Mine Mesa in Arizona popularized an unusual technique called Raised Outline in which the joints between color areas are thicker and appear to rise above the surface of the weaving. Most raised outline rugs also use the technique of alternating single weft threads of two contrasting colors. When tightly battened, they give the appearance of very thin stripes running parallel to each warp thread. As with any collecting specialty, there is so much to learn about Navajo weaving that it can seem overwhelming for the beginner.

indian area rug

There are really no color rules, except they should harmonize.This design also contains a lot of diagonal lines. The name of the rug comes from a settlement in the NE cornerof the Navajo nation and means ‘Cottonwoods in a Circle.’ This is a very interestingrug and has some distinguishable design features. In the center of the rug willbe a rectangle that represents the center of the universe. The 4 rectangles,one in each corner of the rug, represent the homes of the four winds or thefour sacred mountains of the Navajo world. Zigzag lightning lines connect thesecorners with the center.

indian area rug
native american rugs los angeles olimpic blvd
native american rugs los angeles olimpic blvd

They weaved them on their handmade vertical loom with hand-knotted features on the rugs. These distinctive features of weaving made them more popular in the southwest.The tourists admired these rugs because of their design and authenticity. As the Navajo’s cultural heritage was represented on these rugs, they easily attracted the tourists of this region. When the rugs started to reach out internationally, the Navajo was known as one of the most skilled tribes of ancient America. In the 20th century, these rugs began to expand in other countries and are known as pieces of native American art. Before the 15th century, the Navajos weaved these rugs only for their survival. But at the present time, these rugs became one the most demanding artistic pieces for decorating households. Actually, there are a bunch of several factors behind the production of the Navajo rugs which make them luxurious and expensive pieces. Some common reasons are stated here so that you can decide whether these rugs are worth the high price or not.

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.