Southwest Runner Rugs

valuing native american rugs

By the early 1800s, Navajo weavers used wool exclusively, and became well known among both their Indian and Spanish neighbors for finely woven, nearly weatherproof blankets that became popular trade items. Traditional, Native-made blankets were wider than long (when the warp was held vertically) and were known as mantas. 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.

A watershed in Navajo weaving came in the 1860s with the incarceration of about 8000 men, women and children at Bosque Redondo reservation in eastern New Mexico. In an effort to subdue and “domesticate” the Indians, the US Army slaughtered the Navajo’s sheep and destroyed their crops and homes. The government allowed weaving to continue during the internment by replacing the Navajo’s home-grown wool with factory-made yarns from Europe and the eastern United States. After the Navajo returned to their homelands in 1868, the US government continued to provide commercial yarns as part of their “annuity” support for the Navajo people.

native american rugs with a h woven in the corner

Prices are dependent on size, age, tightness of the weave, and intricacy of design. Navajo rugs are so expensive due to their exemplary craftsmanship and use of high quality wool. The tightness of the weaving, size of the rug, dyes used and condition all affect a Navajo rug’s price. Prices for Navajo rugs typically range anywhere from $100 to a few thousand dollars. In the early 1800s Navajo women began to weave chief’s blankets, which were so widely traded that they were worn by Indians from the northern Great Plains to the Mexican border. Although not a badge of chieftainship, these blankets did symbolize power and affluence. The value of a Navajo rug will depend on a few factors, such as how large it is, how old it is, how tight the weaving is, the style, what dyes were used, and what condition it is in. Navajo rugs can range anywhere from $100 for a small one, to several thousand dollars for a large and old one. The only surviving pioneer mill for those blankets is Pendleton Woolen Mills in Pendleton, Oregon. They sell to non-Indians as well, but about half their annual production goes to Indians, particularly Navajos.

southwestern living room rugs

southwestern living room rugs

Evidence suggests they often were tied to the saddle skirt behind the cantle rather than being placed under the saddle. During the first several decades of the twentieth century, weavers near railroad stops and tourist centers made small, loosely woven, pictorial mats. Now known as Gallup Throws, these inexpensive items were a favorite, easy to transport souvenir among visitors to the southwest. Pictorial and geometric “rugs,” too small for use on the floor and typically made with commercially spun and dyed yarns, remain a staple of the souvenir trade to this day. Weaving techniques in the Rug Period have primarily been limited to the standard tapestry weave which is identical on both sides. (This term should not be confused with “tapestry rugs” from Two Grey Hills.)

decoorating with vintage native american rugs

Nevertheless, the great variety of interpretations suggests that meanings were assigned by traders and collectors, not by the Navajo themselves. The storm pattern’s precise origin is uncertain-one story suggests it was developed by a trader on the western side of the Reservation-but the weavers at Crystal developed this concept into one of the most popular and lasting of all Navajo rug patterns. Not far from Crystal was the Two Grey Hills trading post, known for weavings in which no dyes were used. Instead, weavers carefully combed and spun different natural colors of yarn to yield a beautiful range of creamy whites, tans, browns, and greys. (To get a solid black color, weavers sometimes would overdye dark brown wool with black dye.)

Southwest Runner Rugs
decoorating with vintage native american rugs
native american rugs albuquerque
native american rugs albuquerque

Rugs woven here in Ukraine will look like Navajo rugs. The sides selvages contain bundled warps. The ends are hand-sealed. These rugs are flatwoven rugs that have Navajo or southwestern-inspired designs. They are sometimes sold in Indian arts stores as genuine merchandise. These rugs, which take so much time and effort, are usually more expensive than others. The antique Navajo rugs have been woven before the 1950s. They have a hint of history.On the contrary, the current ones are those that have been weaved between 1950-present. The antique ones on the other side are much more expensive. This is why it's best to check with the merchant to see if the rug really is antique. If the rug is genuine, it should be dated before the 1950s.

southwest runner rug

An authentic Navajo rug can cost more than a thousand dollars. You can also invest in them if your passion is art and you want to decorate your home using the most original rugs. These rugs look great in modern interiors. They also last for many years. The Navajo rugs will be one of your most unique and artistic pieces of rugs. Although some of the designs and weaving techniques have changed, these rugs still maintain their authenticity and quality. Hopefully this article has clarified everything about why Navajo Rugs can be so expensive. Even though they are quite expensive, you could still consider these rugs as a symbol or American culture and heritage. Along with guides for specific rug problems, there are also discussions about different rugs. These discussions will help you get a better picture of the carpets and rugs that are in your home.The Navajo Nation, one of the largest Native American Tribes in the U. S., is currently the largest tribe by population.

southwest runner rug