Southwestern Rugs

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The Yeibichai rug is a depiction of ceremonies in which human dancers (usually 6) impersonate Yeis (the holy people). These dancers will usually be in profile with one leg bent as if dancing. They can be men or the men alternate with women. In these rugs, you may find a medicine man administering to a patient. Other figures may also be included such as a clown and a lead dancer. The Yeibechais are specifically participants of a particular Navajo healing ceremony. Although it is usually a nighttime ceremony, the rug usually does not portray a night scene. 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.

When trying to determine the authenticity of a Navajo rug, one of the first things you should check is the warp. Warp strings run vertically and make up the foundation of the rug. Navajo rugs are made on a continuous loom that contains the actual warp threads. You can check this visually and by running your hand along the side of the rug to feel whether the warp threads run the length of the rug or whether they’ve been cut. However, in Mexican-made copies, the cut warp threads are hidden, making it more difficult to detect.

Southwestern Rugs

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There are also distinctive features of Zapotec rugs, such as the fringe on the bottom of the rug. Although similar in style to Navajo rugs, Zapotec rugs are difficult to recognize due to their overlapping patterns and colors. They also have less pattern than a typical Navajo piece of the same size. A few things to look for in a Navajo rug can help you differentiate between the two.

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After shearing, the wool can be cleaned, carded, then spun by hand. Even today Navajo weavers still don't use spinning machines. Instead, the wool is stretched on a spindle and twisted manually. The blanket then gets woven on the unique Navajo loom. It takes a lot to make a Navajo rug. It is not enough to raise the sheep; many weavers continue to do so. Wool must also be spun, cleaned and carded. The process of weaving a large rug may take more than a year. Remember that it can often take years for a weaver to become proficient in weaving Navajo rugs. Girls and boys learn as children and then get more difficult as they go. The quality of the yarn and weave, as well as its size and design, are important factors that influence the price of authentic Navajo rugs. Navajo rugs are woven with the same simple loom that the Navajo have used for 300 year. Because of this, the intricate, balanced designs speak volumes about the weaver's artistic skill and talent.

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Learn all about antique Native American Art while having fun! Joining Red Mesa Gallery News gets you your Navajo Rug checklist, monthly updates, offers and promotions re all things antique native american art. Quit anytime! Are you attracted to the beauty and craftsmanship of Navajo rugs but confused by all the terminology being thrown around in the galleries? Here’s a brief history of Navajo weaving that will help you sort out the most common terms, and give you a head start when you venture out to shop for these fascinating examples of Native American art.

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From the 1880s through the 1930s, reservation traders were the Navajos’ primary contact with the outside world. As such, they also were the weavers’ primary-or even sole-customers. Therefore traders exercised significant influence on weavings simply by paying more for the designs, sizes, colors, and qualities they wanted. Of course, trader’s choices were driven by what they thought they could sell to their off-reservation customers, but they also were guided by their own aesthetic sensibilities. As a result, distinctive styles of rugs emerged around several trading posts in the first years of the twentieth century. Such combinations of pattern and color are known as Regional Styles and are typically named after the trading post that encouraged their production.

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This article will focus on the exemplary authentic Navajo Blankets, which were featured in Masterpieces from the Loom (2011) at Medicine Man Gallery. These include Navajo Chief's blankets and transitional blankets. Also, Germantown pictorials and other early Navajo blanket styles are discussed. Navajo saddle covers are a very unusual type of Navajo weaving. Medicine Man Gallery owner, Dr. J. Mark Sublette talks about these amazing Navajo blankets, which were featured in an exhibition at the gallery in 2009. These topics cover style, form, as well as appeal to collectors.

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