NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN NAVAJO RUG ZONNIE CHARLEY OOAK FOLK ART SOUTHWEST DECOR

The Navajo reservation is the largest reservation in the country. It is spread out over many miles and consists of vast high deserts and well as mountains and canyons. The Navajos have been weaving rugs or blankets for about 300 years. The classic period became the transitional period around 1868 when traders came to the reservation to trade with the Indians.  Trading posts began to proliferate on the Navajo Reservation around the turn of the century. One of the most historic is the Hubbell Trading Post near Ganado. This helped to create the regional styles which have helped to define the look of the Navajo rug.  When a rug is described, the term used very often will be the area or in the past, the trading post.  The artists from Wide Ruins, Chinle, and Pine Springs typically use native vegetal dyes.  In the Two Grey Hills area, very fine greys, browns, whites and blacks are used. The Ganado and Klagatoh areas are famous for their predominantly red rugs.  Other types of Navajo rugs are Sand Painting rugs, Yeibechai rugs, Pictorials and Storm Patterns.  Hand spun and home-dyed wool was common in earlier days but most Navajo rugs now make use of commercially dyed yarns or a combination of hand spun or natural wool colors and commercially spun yarn.  When assessing a rug, look for straight edges that line up when folded, even straight designs and an even, tight weaving.