how to identify native american rugs and blankets
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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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These early weavings made before the 1870s are very rare, bringing tens of thousands of dollars-or more-from collectors and museums. The so-called Chief’s Blanket is a specific style of manta that went through a distinct design evolution. First Phase blankets were made from about 1800 to 1850 and consisted simply of brown (or blue) and white stripes with the top, bottom and center stripes usually being wider than the others. Second Phase blankets included small red rectangles at the center and ends of the darker stripes and were made about 1840 to 1870. The Third Phase type, between 1860 and 1880, saw the addition of stepped or serrated diamonds of color to the center and ends of the wide stripes. In weavings of the Fourth Phase, made from 1870 through the early 1900s, diamond motifs became larger and more elaborate, often overtaking the stripes as primary design elements. Revivals of chief’s blankets-usually made as rugs-have been popular since the 1950s.
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A blanket like the one worn by the chief of Navajo tells the story about Native American spirituality, survival struggle and community. This blanket is also known as a serapis and was made in the 1865 Indian internment. It is richly woven in reds, and as striking as its bordered design. Red was difficult to find in those days, especially among Native Americans. The Native Americans found a way to get around this problem by tearing apart machine-made rugs. They then re-weaved the thread into their own designs. This design, however, is very rare. It shows that the outside world is increasingly influencing not just Navajo culture but also their art. Notice the borders that are only part of the blanket's four corners. Inspired by exotic Oriental rug designs, bordered textiles were very popular in the '60s. This suggests that weavers have copied these rugs from photographs, though it is more likely they had already seen them. However, bordering was not in harmony with Native Americans' inheritance of design.

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Despite the obvious symbolism of patterns such as the “Tree of Life,” most pictorial motifs had no specific religious meaning; they simply were objects common in the culture or of special interest to the weaver. The major exceptions to this rule, however, were weavings that portrayed Yeis, or Navajo Holy People, and weavings that recreated sacred ceremonial sand paintings. A small number of weavers made Sand Painting Rugs as early as the 1890s in the area around Two Grey Hills. Most famously, the medicine man Hosteen Klah made a series of sand painting rugs with the help of his mother and nieces between 1919 and 1936.
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When Germantown wool from Pennsylvania was originally imported, it afforded the weavers a wonderful range of new colors to work with and this design wasperfect for the combining contrasting colors. This rug design looks almost Persian and perhaps least likea Navajo. It is a very busy and bold design with a wide border filled witha variety of motifs, especially a lightning path. It is a complex design andthe rugs are often large. The centers of these rugs are quite elaborate withfeathers, arrows, and claw-like hooks extending from the points of diamonds andtriangles. Zigzags will be everywhere. There are really no color rules, except they should harmonize.This design also contains a lot of diagonal lines.


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You may be wondering about where to buy Navajo Rugs. These rugs have a long history and are extremely popular. You will find the ideal one for your home, while supporting the Navajo tribe. They are rare and highly sought after, having been around for over 500 year. You will be able to bring authentic Navajo culture in your home whether you are buying one for yourself or for your art collection. Although the idea of buying a Navajo rugs may seem intimidating, it's actually very easy. Many online retailers feature Navajo rugs in online galleries. If you wish to see them in real life, you will need to visit a Navajo-based store. To visit Navajo homes you will need a reservation.
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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.
how to identify native american rugs and blankets