Navajo Blankets

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Designs his weavers developed before 1911 were still being made, virtually unchanged, as late as the 1950s. These oriental-influenced patterns are now known as Early Crystal rugs. Those made at the beginning of the century typically featured aniline red with natural whites, browns and greys, while rugs made from the 1920s on tended to rely even more heavily on a wide range of natural wool colors. One of the most popular designs that likely resulted from Moore’s work at Crystal was the Storm Pattern. It is generally defined as a central rectangle connected by zig-zag lines to smaller rectangles in each corner. The storm pattern often is said to have symbolic meaning: the zig-zags are lighting, the corner rectangles are the four sacred mountains of the Navajo or the four directions or the four winds, etc.

Because these rugs are sacred, only a few Navajo weavers arewilling or able to produce them. To protect these individuals from spiritualharm, special ceremonial sings must be conducted. These rugs are very rare and thus very valuable and are producedin the Two Grey Hillsand Shiprock areas. Yeis (yays) are the Holy People (supernatural) who cancommunicate between the Navajo people and their gods. They are usually shown face-frontand are tall, slender figures carrying rattles, cornstalks, etc. There are someelements of some sandpaintings but these rugs are not used in ceremonies. Any combination and amount of colors may be used. They can be commerciallyor vegetal dyed and contain different numbers of Yei figures. Sometimes thesefigures are surrounded by the guardian rainbow Yei symbol.

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The Spanish introduced the longer than wide serape form that was easier to make on European-style looms. Mantas and serapes were generally used in the same way: wrapped around the shoulders with one long edge turned over as a “collar.” However, mantas also were used by women as wrap-around dresses. Serapes only rarely had a slit in the middle for the head which made them ponchos. Navajo weavers made both the manta and serape styles during the eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries along with shirts, dresses, breechcloths, and sashes.

Navajo Blankets
native american area rugs for sale

native american area rugs for sale

Navajo rugs do not have ridges at the ends. On occasion, someone who is trying to pass a rug off as Navajo or just make it look more Navajo will take the time to actually run the warps back into the rug to eliminate the fringe, but this creates ridges in the ends of the piece. If you separate the weft yarns slightly, you’ll see the doubled up warps. The next time I see a good example of this, I’ll add a picture of it. This is very common in some Ye’i rug copies that are done in Mexico.

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Look out for lazy lines. A lazyline is a diagonal, 45 degree angle line that the Navajo weaver forms as he creates the rug. It can be a sign of authenticity in Navajo rugs. Although knock-off rugs sometimes have similar looking lines, the presence of one is a good indicator. While the weaver works, a lazy arc is created. The weaver will sit in front of a section and work in the weft. The weaver then moves to another section. The weaver creates beautiful lines throughout the body of the rug by doing this.

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handmade native american rugs arizona
handmade native american rugs arizona

It is important to remember that weaving Navajo rugs can be difficult. A weaver may not have the time and skill to do it right away. Boys and girls learn as children, but they often progress in difficulty. The price of authentic Navajo rugs will be affected by the quality and weave of the yarn, their size and the design. Navajo rugs can be woven on the same simple loom used by the Navajo for over 300 years. The intricate, balanced designs of Navajo rugs speak volumes about the weaver’s talent and artistic ability. It is often difficult for new collectors to determine if a Navajo rug they are buying is authentic. It is important to know what to look out for, as weavings from Mexico may resemble Navajo rugs. This can cause confusion for novice collectors. A weaving described as "Navajo" should be avoided. This is a sign that you are not looking at a genuine Navajo rug but a Mexican replica.

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The Wide Ruins style is the most elaborate and usually themost finely woven of the banded rug styles. It evolved from the Chinle. These rugs will have broad strips of plain color, some with geometric designs and with verynarrow bands with delicate motifs, combined with thin, straight lines ofcontrasting colors. The shapes found within the broader bands are oftenoutlined with a different color. The main colors are browns, olives, maroons, and mustardsaccented with a color such as white, red, or black.

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