What Are the Earlist Native American Rugs

twining native american rugs

There are two exceptions to the “no fringe” rule. Germantown rugs have a fringe that is added on after the rug is woven. They are rare and there’s a good picture of one of them at left. The fringe on an antique Germantown may be partially worn away, or gone altogether, but this does not hurt the structure of the textile, since the fringe is an add-on. The other exception to the rule is a Gallup throw. These small pieces about usually 18″ by 24″ and are woven in the Gallup, New Mexico area. A typical Gallup throw is woven on a cotton warp, and the weaving is cut off and knotted rather than finished in the traditional way so there is a fringe on one end only. There are thousands of Gallup throws out there that were sold to train passengers along the Sante Fe railway. They make a nice addition to a collection and usually will cost $40 to $50, although I’ve seen them go for $250 on eBay.

By the early 1800s, Navajo weavers used wool exclusively, and became well known among both their Indian and Spanish neighbors for finely woven, nearly weatherproof blankets that became popular trade items. Traditional, Native-made blankets were wider than long (when the warp was held vertically) and were known as mantas.

rug southwest

Early blankets dating back to the mid-1800s have been the most rare, with only 50 examples known. Collectors love the rarity and value of Navajo blankets. Many of them consider a fine Navajo cloth to be the foundation of their collection. This combination of rarity, collector enthusiasm and high prices is evident in these textiles. Navajo blankets rival modern art in terms visual appeal. Navajo blankets offer a study in balance, composition and contrast, whether they are simple, bold stripes as in early blanket examples or more complex, "eyeazzler" geometric patterns that were created when synthetic dyes became readily available.

What Are the Earlist Native American Rugs
native american rugs free catalogs

native american rugs free catalogs

Here is more detail about The Navajo Churro Collection. There are 28 different styles of Navajo Rugs. Some Styles can be more difficult than others. The value of a piece will be affected by how intricate or tight it is. The general rule of thumb is that the piece will be more valuable if the weave is tighter and more precise. The condition and value of a Navajo Rug is a major factor. It is important to weigh the condition factors (is the weaving straight and clean? Is it damaged? Does it fade? etc.). Consider your attraction to the weave and weigh them against each other. Sometimes problems can be fixed - but that blog is about Care & Repair.

native american 35x24 handwoven rugs

Compared to the other types of rugs, the weaving method is a bit different which is both a tricky and exhausting process. Because, these rugs are made with handlooms which are operated manually. Back in that time, the weavers used to set up their looms between two trees. But nowadays, they use poles instead of trees and sit on a small tool or just on the floor while weaving on the loom. The weavers overlap the threads in several stages for a perfect base pattern and then put layers of other designs over them. Often black and white stripes on them are known as distinctive patterns by which people can recognize these rugs. If you notice the wool and fabric of the Navajo rugs, you can surely tell the difference from other types of rugs. The Navajos made high-quality hand-spun wool from their own sheep for using on the rugs. Besides, they used a special type of yarn named Saxony, which was silky and naturally tinted. So, these rugs were made with all-natural components, which ensured the high quality of the Navajo rugs. Besides, it was difficult to spin these wools, which made these rugs so expensive as a price of the exhausting work and effort of the weavers. Some unique designs of the Navajo rugs made them distinctive and special. These rugs hold different types of geometric patterns on the surface, which are quite unique from most other rugs. As we have discussed before, the Navajo weavers overlap different yarns on their handlooms for several strips of design. These stripes were extremely thin but distinctive among the hundred other stripes on the same rug.

native american 35x24 handwoven rugs
modern native american area rugs
modern native american area rugs

Navajo rugs don't have ridges at their ends. Sometimes, someone trying to pass a rug off to Navajo, or to make it look more Navajo, will run the warps back into a rug to remove the fringe. However, this can create ridges at the ends. You can see the doubled-up warps if you separate the weft yarns. This is what I will do next time I see it. This is a common feature in Ye'i rug reproductions made in Mexico.

red 9x12 native american rugs

J. Sublette, Navajo textile expert. Mark Sublette explains the reasons why Navajo blankets have such a high value. It boils down to three factors: rarity, scarcity, and artistry. Navajo blankets, an older version of Navajo weavings that were made between 1840-1890, are an older type. These textiles were soft and drapable and could be wrapped around the body to be worn. They are commonly called "wearing blankets". Note: Saddle blankets are a smaller, thicker type, but they don't have the same value as a wearing blanket. Even at their peak production, Navajo weavings proved difficult to find. It took a weaver as long as a year to create a blanket, not counting the time it took to raise the sheep to make the wool.

red 9x12 native american rugs