Southwestern Rugs Depot

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As with any collecting specialty, there is so much to learn about Navajo weaving that it can seem overwhelming for the beginner. The best way to learn is to look at as many weavings as you can in galleries and museums, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Soon you’ll be matching the terminology to the weavings and you’ll begin to feel a surge of confidence. When you decide to buy, focus on a reputable dealer who will take time to answer all your questions simply and directly, and make sure they are willing to give you a written guarantee of authenticity. Happy collecting! Navajo rugs have been made for nearly 500 years, but they have recently made their way into homes all over the world. What makes these rugs so unique and sought after? This guide will go over the history of Navajo rugs, the vibrant designs, where to buy them, and how to care for them.

This is accomplished by alternating weft threads of two contrasting colors and tightly “battening” or packing them together, giving the effect of a thin, undulating line. Starting in the 1940s, Sally and William Lippincott, owners of the trading post at Wide Ruins, Arizona worked with the weavers in their area to develop highly detailed banded patterns rendered in vegetal dyes. Most Wide Ruins rugs are characterized by very fine, tightly-spun yarns and a flat, even weave. They feature the full range of new vegetal colors including soft green, mauve, terra cotta, and pale purple, pink and blue as well as the more common yellow, gold, brown, and tan.

american area rug

american area rug

A great way to determine the authenticity and quality of your Native American Rug are to examine its characteristics. You can check for short corner ties between the end cords or selvage. It is the best way for your rugs to be authentic than buying authentic ones. You can also visit Indian Arts and Crafts Board's website to learn more about rugs and similar artifacts. The right certification stamp is required to verify authenticity.

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Yei pattern rugs feature images of the Holy People drawn from ceremonial sand paintings but do not recreate an entire painting. Typically, the Yeis are highly stylized figures with elongated bodies, short straight legs, and heads facing the viewer. Yebechais have more human proportions, usually face sideways, and have legs bent in a dancing motion. The most common types of Yei and Yeibechai rugs feature multiple figures oriented parallel with the weft threads so that the rug appears wider than long when the figures are upright. Two distinct styles emerged in the 1920s. Those made in the area of Shiprock, New Mexico tend to have light colored backgrounds with no border, and often use brightly colored commercial yarns. Yeis and Yeibechais made in the central part of the reservation (northeastern Arizona) tend to have dark backgrounds with simple borders.

native american print shag room rugs
round native american rugs
round native american rugs

The price of a Navajo rug is determined by several factors, including the fineness of the yarn, the design, and its size. Traditionally, Navajo rugs were woven on the same simple loom for over 300 years. Their intricate, balanced designs are testimony to the weaver’s skill. Though reproductions are often made in Mexico, they are still recognizable as Navajo rugs.

Southwestern Rugs Depot
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Many Navajo rugs will have what Indian arts dealers call, "lazy lines." It is an inaccurate and insulting term that I hope will be replaced by the term, "Section Line." The section line line is a diagonal joint or break in the weave where a weaver has worked on a single section of the rug without having to reach all the way across the rug. She weaves one section, then moves over and weaves another section. This creates the diagonal section line. Not all Navajo rugs have section lines. The end borders in Mexican imitation Navajo rugs are generally much wider than in a genuine Navajo rug. Side borders are often wider as well.

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