Native American Apache Rugs

native american rugs with wolf in them

Navajo rugs often have a side selvage cord. Navajo weavers often use a twisted side selvage cord to help them maintain a straight edge. The presence or absence of a side selvage cord is not as definite an indicator as a fringe, but if the cord is there, it builds the case that it’s Navajo. Mexican weavers maintain straight sides on their pieces by using three or four warps together, or even a single very thick warp or even rope. If you see a rug with outside warps that are visibly thicker, look at the ends of the rug for fringe or for evidence that the warp ends have been sewn back in to eliminate the fringe.

At the turn of the 20th century, there was growing interest in the rest of the world for all things Native American. Tourists from the rest of America, and beyond, would come to the Southwest in search of authentic souvenirs. The exotic designs caught on and remain popular to this day. Over the course of the 20th century, various types of designs sprang up, providing added variety to Navajo rugs, which became widely admired. Rugs made in the Navajo style are named for what region they originate from, or what influenced them. The following are the Navajo rug designs you will come across:

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Zapotec and other Mexican knock-offs often have wide end borders and end cords that are added after the rug is woven. The warp ends will be buried along side the adjacent cut warp ends as described previously. It should be noted that many knock-offs, regardless of origin, use designs taken directly from photos in books. The Zapotec are the #1 makers of counterfeit Navajo rugs. In Teotitlan de Valle (Zapotec rugs) much of their entire industry is devoted to making fakes and knock-offs. They make the hightest number and most convincing fakes.

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cherokee indian rugs

First, authentic Navajo rugs feature a unique vertical loom. It uses a continuous loom. This means that the base wool yarn used is not cut at either end. Instead, the warp thread loops from the bottom to top, then loops down to bottom, then loops up to top. The Navajo rug's base is the warp yarn. While the weft yarn makes the design patterns, it is the warp yarn. Mexican looms are horizontally designed and use multiple pieces warp threads with fringed ends. If fringed ends appear, this is most likely a Mexican-made rug. The rug has multiple warp threads and is more durable than a Navajo rug which uses one, continuous warp. This rule may not be true all the time. Some early Navajo "Germantown-style" weavings may have had fringe.

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Older rugs might be dirty, or may have acquired other odors. It is funny to see a potential buyer look through a store's inventory and sniff the rugs. A buyer should be able recognize the differences between wool and other materials. While there are some more scientific methods of testing wool, they aren't always practical in the context where a rug is being purchased from an Indian arts dealer or store. Zapotec is another Mexican knock-off. Many Mexican RugsZapotec have wide ends and end cords. These end cords are added after the rug was woven. As explained previously, the warp ends of the rug will be buried with adjacent cut warp end. It is important that knock-offs of all origin use designs taken from books and photos. The Zapotec is the biggest manufacturer of counterfeit Navajo rugs. Teotitlan de Valle's Zapotec rug industry is heavily involved in the production of fakes and knockoffs. They create the most convincing, high-quality fakes.

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southwest style rugs sale
southwest style rugs sale

Navajo rugs stand out among all the rugs with a high price tag. Navajo rugs are expensive. First, they are rich in history. You will also notice that these rugs exhibit excellent craftsmanship. Finally, we can see the type and method of weaving used by the weaver to create these rugs. They are far more durable than any other rug on market.

Native American Apache Rugs
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A damaged rug with fading or worn-out may have a lower price. It will cost more than new ones, even though it has all these issues. The Navajo rugs' design shows you how exceptional craftsmanship looks. The weaving of Navajo rugs was a skill that took a lot of time.

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