Authentic Native American Indian Rugs for Sale

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Anyone who is interested collecting authentic Navajo rugs and blankets should watch this video. Dr. J. Mark Sublette shares the pitfalls and condenses 25 years of experience in one video tutorial. This video was created by Dr. J., CEO of Medicine Man Gallery. Mark Sublette will show you how professional art dealers can value and purchase authentic Navajo rugs. This video is essential, regardless of whether you're just starting to collect rugs or have been collecting them for many years.

Today, Navajo blankets can be bought for as low $500 as several thousand dollars. Prices will vary depending on how large, old, tightness and intricate the design. Navajo rugs can be very expensive due to the high quality of their wool and outstanding craftsmanship. A Navajo rug’s price is determined by its tightness, size, condition, dye used, and condition. Navajo rugs cost anywhere from $100 to a few hundred dollars. In the early 1800s, Navajo woman began to weave chief’s blankets. The blankets were so well-received that Indians could wear them from the border of Mexico to the northern Great Plains. These blankets weren't a badge for chieftainship. However, they were a symbol of power as well as wealth. A number of factors affect the price of a Navajo rugs. These include its size, age, quality, weaving, style, used dyes, and current condition. Navajo rugs cost anywhere from $100 for a smaller rug to several thousands for a large, old one.

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Are you attracted to the beauty and craftsmanship of Navajo rugs but confused by all the terminology being thrown around in the galleries? Here’s a brief history of Navajo weaving that will help you sort out the most common terms, and give you a head start when you venture out to shop for these fascinating examples of Native American art. The Navajo (Dine [dih-NEH] in their own language) are Athabascan-speaking people who migrated to the Southwest from Canada in about the 15th century.

native american indian wool rugs

native american indian wool rugs

During the last two decades of the 19th century, most Navajo blankets were woven of spongy, loosely spun yarns most frequently dyed with aniline reds, oranges and yellows. Banded Blankets made with simple stripes of contrasting color were descendents of the earliest Navajo weavings. A more complicated type of design was derived from Hispanic Saltillo serapes which featured brightly colored patterns of serrated diamond shapes. Weavers frequently outlined the small serrated patterns with a single yarn of contrasting color to heighten the visual complexity and impact.

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The majority of these fakes are really just dhurries in Navajo rug designs. Some of the better fakes use good quality wool or a wool and polyester blend. Some really bad ones use polyester yarn. Dhurries are very cheap even in the more intricate patterns. The sides selvages have bundled warps and the ends will be hand serged.

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native american rugs mid century
native american rugs mid century

You can check for these characteristics to verify the authenticity of your Native American Rug. Look out for selvage and end cords that have short corners. You can only ensure the authenticity and quality of your rug by purchasing authentic pieces. To learn more about rugs and other artifacts, you can visit the Indian Arts and Crafts Board website. You can be certain that authentic rugs are authentic by checking their certification stamp. A dealer near the reservation is the best place to purchase a Navajo rug. It is often difficult to authenticate rugs purchased from faraway locations. Genuine rugs are not only a way to support the local art scene, but they also make a great investment in American art. A department store rug may not be authentic as the designer might have used a Navajo painting to give it a look like it was made by a Navajo.

Authentic Native American Indian Rugs for Sale
native american textiles for sale

Many Navajo rugs will have what Indian arts dealers call, "lazy lines." It is an inaccurate and insulting term that I hope will be replaced by the term, "Section Line." The section line line is a diagonal joint or break in the weave where a weaver has worked on a single section of the rug without having to reach all the way across the rug. She weaves one section, then moves over and weaves another section. This creates the diagonal section line. Not all Navajo rugs have section lines.

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