Modoc Native American Rugs

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Learn all about antique Native American Art while having fun! Joining Red Mesa Gallery News gets you your Navajo Rug checklist, monthly updates, offers and promotions re all things antique native american art. Quit anytime! 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.

Weaving has always been a major part of the Navajo culture. While it is not entirely known where they learned to weave, they ended up becoming the most skilled out of all the Native Amerian tribes. The vivid geometric patterns on highly-durable fabrics were renown throughout the Southwest.

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Most Navajo rugs have no fringe. 99.5% of Navajo rugs have a fringe. If you see fringe on the piece that you are considering buying, you can ask the seller how they decided that it was Navajo-made. I don't mind if they believe their grandmother bought the rug at J. L. Hubbell. But if it has fringe, it most likely isn't Navajo. Navajo rugs are woven in continuous figure eight techniques and fill the entire warp. The left picture shows a rug being made. These loops are visible at the ends Navajo rugs.

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Rugs that come from Navajo can be considered some of most unique and beautiful textile products. These rugs, named after the Navajo tribe where they were created, are very colorful. This tribe settled in Texas' southwest corner in the 10th- and 11th centuries. They established themselves by 1500. The Navajo tribe's tribal women started weaving chief's blankets around 1800. These blankets were very popular and Indians from the northern Great Plains up to the Mexican border wore them. However, blankets were not considered a symbol or chieftainship. They were, however, a symbol of power and wealth.

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After shearing, the wool can be cleaned, carded, then spun by hand. Even today Navajo weavers still don't use spinning machines. Instead, the wool is stretched on a spindle and twisted manually. The blanket then gets woven on the unique Navajo loom. It takes a lot to make a Navajo rug. It is not enough to raise the sheep; many weavers continue to do so. Wool must also be spun, cleaned and carded. The process of weaving a large rug may take more than a year. Remember that it can often take years for a weaver to become proficient in weaving Navajo rugs. Girls and boys learn as children and then get more difficult as they go. The quality of the yarn and weave, as well as its size and design, are important factors that influence the price of authentic Navajo rugs. Navajo rugs are woven with the same simple loom that the Navajo have used for 300 year. Because of this, the intricate, balanced designs speak volumes about the weaver's artistic skill and talent.

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It’s a textile woven for the tourist trade in southern Mexico and Guatemala. It can be cut apart where the warps aren’t woven or displayed as is. It’s genuine Navajo and is a variant of the Storm Pattern. I don’t have size information, but in good condition, a rug like this should be worth about $100 per square foot. This is a twill double saddle blanket. The require quite a bit of skill to weave, but for some reason they never get the auction value that they should. Figure an auction value of $350 to $600 and a retail of $750 to $800. I purchased a Two Grey Hills rug at Toadlena Trading in 1984. I decided to splurge and bought a rug from a master weaver. I packed the rug away years ago and sadly lost the original info on the weaver. Is there any possible way to find out the weaver of this rug by the design etc? I would be more then grateful for any suggestions!

Modoc Native American Rugs
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