Contemporary Native American Rugs

modern native american area rugs

So how much do Navajo Rugs Cost? This Navajo Rug cost and pricing guide is designed to help you develop an initial budget and understanding of Navajo Rugs. There are several things to consider when purchasing quality Navajo Rugs.

Navajo textile authority Dr. J. Mark Sublette explains why Navajo blankets are so valuable. In short, it comes down to three factors: scarcity, rarity, and artistry. Navajo blankets are an older form of Navajo weavings, produced from around 1840-1890. These textiles were soft and drapable, meant to be wrapped around the body and worn - they are often called “wearing blankets” for this reason. (Note: Saddle blankets, a smaller and thicker type of weaving, are also highly collectible but don’t command the same price point as a wearing blanket.) Even at the peak of production, Navajo weavings were hard to come by. A blanket could take a weaver up to a year to make - not including the amount of time it took to raise the sheep for the wool.

cheap native american rugs

You might be curious about the value of a Navajo rug. These handwoven rugs are beautiful because of their authenticity. However, not all authentic Navajo rugs are worth the same amount. There are several ways to appraise Navajo rugs. It can be taken to a museum or sold to professional retailers. You also have the option of selling it online via sites such as eBay. If your Navajo rug is in poor condition, you can restore it to increase its value. A professional appraiser can be hired to assess it. A well-made Navajo blanket is a valuable collector item. It is also important to keep in mind that many other products were produced by the Navajo tribe before weaving rugs. Many Navajo blankets could be used every day and were made from natural fibers. After the Spanish introduced Iberian Churra sheep to Spain, they started using wool from desert plants in their blankets. These blankets were eventually replaced by machine-made blankets that were produced in Pendleton (Oregon).

native american rugs free catalogs

native american rugs free catalogs

The Navajo returned from Bosque Redondo to a very different world; one increasingly tied to the larger Anglo-American economy and culture. Families quickly rebuilt their sheep herds and resumed production of their own hand-spun yarns, although the Churro sheep had been replaced by American Merino sheep which had shorter, greasier wool that was much harder to clean and spin by hand. Weavers also found that the market for their blankets was changing rapidly. The trading post system and its ties to the railroad brought relatively cheap manufactured clothing and supplies to the Navajo and surrounding tribes. Anglo-style coats and dresses were replacing wearing blankets as the clothing of choice among Native peoples.

south west rugs

So how much do Navajo Rugs Cost? This Navajo Rug price and pricing guide will help you establish a budget and understand Navajo Rugs. When purchasing quality Navajo Rugs, there are many things you should consider. Because Navajo Rugs are woven by hand on a Navajo Loom, there are standard sizes. The most common sizes are 6x9, 5x6, and 8ft. There are many sizes, including smaller and larger versions. Rugs are typically woven in rectangular shapes. The size of the rug you require will affect its price. Large Navajo Rugs can take up to 3 years to create and may be more difficult to find. Smaller Navajo Rugs start from $100, and go up from there.

south west rugs
south western rug
south western rug

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. This type of weaving was developed in the 1950s and involvesa special technique which results in a three dimensional effect, making araised outline on the front side. Many of the New Lands weavers come from the Coal Mine Mesa area of the Navajo Nation.

native american 35x24 handwoven rugs

While basic knowledge of regional characteristics is useful in the study of Navajo rug ID, in the Navajo nation today a rug with a regional name such as Two Grey Hills may have actually been woven by a weaver from a completely different region. To aid in Navajo rug ID, there are certain ones that can be identified by their distinctive colors, others by the bands of color and the designs within those bands, and certain others by their distinctive designs. The Ganadoand Klagetoh tend to have simpler designs than the similar Two Grey Hills, and Burntwater rugs.

Contemporary Native American Rugs
native american 35x24 handwoven rugs