Native Rugs

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It is a Chief Blanket variant. It combines elements from the Third Phase Chief Blanket and what are known as Moqui blankets. These have black and white stripes and are associated to the time when many Navajos were served as indentured servants in Hispanic families in northern New Mexico. Fake or imitations are common in Mexico, India, Pakistan, and Ukraine. There are also a few forgeries that have been made in the United States. Fake rugs from Mexico are made on a horizontal Spanish/European loom. Each end of the loom has warps attached. While there may be a bundle of warps cabled at each end to give dimensional stability, there won't be side cords like in a genuine Navajo rug. The rug should be removed from the loom once it is done. It will have the warp ends hanging from each end. It is necessary to sew the ends of the rug back together in order to create a Navajo rug. A non-functional set of end cords can be applied while you do this. To complete the fake, side cords may be added.

For more than a century, the southwestern U.S. was home to the Navajo. After years of war with white settlers from other Native tribes in the West, the Navajo developed a skill that would allow them to produce one their most important creations: blankets. While many things are important to the Navajo, it is most well-known for their weaving skills. PBS says that two Spanish skills were learned by the group in the 17th century: how to herd sheep and how knit wool. They learned sophisticated weaving techniques from the Pueblo in the late 17th Century. The Navajo mastered this skill and were able to weave blankets that could literally hold water. They could be used in multiple ways, including as blankets or coats.

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This video is Dr. J. Sublette, CEO Medicine Man Gallery. Mark Sublette will discuss how professional art dealers purchase and value authentic Navajo rugs. This video will help you decide if you want to buy your first rug or if you have been collecting for years. The Navajo Chiefs' blanket is one of the most beloved Navajo blanket styles. Native American art expert J. Mark Sublette explains the finer points of authentic Navajo Chief’s blankets. This includes their history, the phases and how to identify them through each historical phase. Navajo textile expert, Dr. J. Mark Sublette explains when to date Navajo Navajo blankets. This video will provide an overview on the characteristics of authentic Navajo blankets, as well as how to identify them.

Native Rugs

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The key thing to remember is that if you are uncomfortable or unsure whether a rug you are considering is an authentic Navajo rug, do not buy it. Instead, work with a reputable dealer you can trust to ensure that you are looking at an authentic Navajo rug. This video is essential viewing for both beginning and seasoned collectors alike and will help you understand how to differentiate between the two types of authentic Navajo weavings. It is important that you can tell the difference between a Navajo rug or a Navajo blanket because the price of the textile depends on the kind of weaving it is.

what native american clan weavers used birds in the rugs
1960 native american rugs
1960 native american rugs

Zapotec and Mexican knock-offs are known for their wide end borders. End cords are often added after the rug is woven. The adjacent cut warp ends will be buried together with the warp ends, as previously described. It is important to note that many knockoffs, regardless if they are of the same origin, copy designs straight from books. The Zapotec are the most prolific producers of fake Navajo rugs. Teotitlan de Valle, where Zapotec rugs are made, has a large industry dedicated to producing fakes and knockoffs. They create the most convincing fakes and make the highest number.

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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.

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