Native American Wool Kilim Rugs

pacific northwest native american rugs

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quickly rebuilt their sheep herds and resumed production of their own hand-spun yarns, although the Churro sheep had been replaced by American Merino sheep which had shorter, greasier wool that was much harder to clean and spin by hand.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.

On our website, we have pricing for most Navajo rugs posted. If a price is not visible, it is either part of our exclusive Navajo Churro Collection, or is one of our more important and valuable Antique or Contemporary Navajo Rugs. We are happy to provide pricing for any these pieces. When I saw that a 19th century antique Navajo blanket was sold in an auction for – $1,800,000 – my eyebrow immediately shot upwards to my hairline. “What?!” I thought to myself – or perhaps I even spoke it aloud. “How could that sell for so much money?! ” It was an ordinary blanket, hardly more elegant or interesting than the most mundane Moroccan here in our gallery.

southwest runner

It's a tourist textile, woven in Guatemala and Mexico. It can also be cut to remove warps or displayed as-is. It is genuine Navajo. A rug such as this, although I do not have the exact size information, should be valued at around $100 per sq. ft. This is an twill double saddle cushion. They are difficult to weave and require considerable skill. However, they do not get the expected auction value. You can expect an auction price between $350-$600 and a retail value between $750-$800. Two Grey Hills Rug was my first purchase at Toadlena Trading. It was 1984. I decided that it was worth the money to buy a rug from an expert weaver. The weaver information was not included in the original rug that I had packed away. It is indeed a Chief Blanket version. It combines elements of Third Phase Chief Blanket components with Moqui blankets. Moqui blankets are black and/or blue stripes and are associated in part with the time that many Navajos were servile in Hispanic homes in northern New Mexico.

Native American Wool Kilim Rugs

area rugs with native american designs

The Burntwater rugs display a combination of earth tones andpastels. Colors such as brown, sienna,mustard, and rust are accented with pale colors such as rose, green, blue,white, and lilac. The designs can use geometric spirals, head-to-head triangles, stepped diagonals,and multiple borders. The Burntwater style is newer and is basically an expansionof the traditional TwoGrey Hillsdesigns by weavers in the Wide Ruins/Burntwater area south of Gando.

area rugs with native american designs
southwest design rugs
southwest design rugs

They are more likely to incorporate natural wool colors and more subdued chemical shades. Yeis continue to be very popular with collectors and are now being made in nearly all parts of the reservation. Although rugs have been the predominant product of Navajo looms over past century, weavers have continued to make other types of products, if on a smaller scale. Navajo culture thoroughly embraced the horse in the late 19th century, and saddle blankets were commonly produced until the 1950s. Single Saddle Blankets were roughly 30″ square, and Double Saddle Blankets were of similar width, but about twice and long and were doubled over when in use to provide extra padding. Early saddle blankets often were woven in simple striped patterns, and double saddle blankets now are sometimes difficult to distinguish from Transitional wearing blankets.

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They knew the importance of beautiful, eye-catching design. They often added their personal touches to the overall rug design. Sometimes the personal touch can take the form of a symbol. Typically, lightning bolts are seen along with sun rays. All these symbols have a significance, which indicates what the weaver was thinking at the time they began to weave the rug. It is one of the special things about these rugs. Navajo rugs tend to be more expensive than other rugs. The Navajo rugs cost more because of their outstanding craftsmanship and history. It will not be easy to compare a Navajo Navajo rugs with something made in a modern factory. If you are considering a Navajo rugs you should know that it is a work of art with a rich past and is of exceptional quality.

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