Navajo rug

[Augustus McCrae]

I recently added this very old rug to the collection and I have been all over the net trying to find one similar and have not found one. I think the large object in the center is called a Chinle Star. I know it came from New Mexico in the 60s and was old when it was purchased then. Does anyone here on this site know how to read Navajo rugs? Any info would be appreciated.

[Stan H]

A very nice rug. The colors are hard to determine though. That would determine much about when, where, and who the rug was made by.

 

My wife spoke to her older sister who is a rug maker. They know nothing about any "story" being told in the rugs, though they also do not deny that perhaps some do. Mostly, the pattern used has always been unique to the maker. No Dene' woman would ever think to copy another's patterns.

 

By the way, my sister-in-law still makes her rugs in the old way. She raises her own sheep, shears them and makes the wool, and even gathers the dyes from Mother Earth's plants and minerals.

 

Did you find the flaw in your rug? All true Dene' rugs will have a small flaw somewhere. The flaws is made deliberately. The idea behind that is only the Great Creator is perfect and anything people make is flawed, therefore they make the flaw obvious, to show they do not equate themselves with the Great Creator.

 

Anyway, good luck on tracking your rug. If you find there is a "story" on the pattern, please let us know.

 

 

[Augustus McCrae]

I do notice that the triangle above the Chinle Star..I think that is what it is called.. is off centered. Maybe that is the makers mark. It does have 6 colors  and I have sent photos and measurements to a renouned company that restores, cleans and they said they can identify it and appraise it. I will know something by tommorrow night hopefully.

[Stan H]

I hope the news comes back good, that you have a real treasure there. A good expert should be able to narrow it down as to when and where it was made, even possibly the weaver.

 

The original rugs were black, white, and/or gray, the natural colors of the sheep wool. They did not begin to use colors until the rugs became tourist items.

 

Dene' legend tells us that Spider Woman came among the people and saw they were only wearing animal skins, so she taught the Navajo women how to weave. In the beggining, they wove only cotton, but when the Spanish brought sheep, the people learned how to shear and spin wool into thread to make items. Most early weaving was for clothing and blankets. It was not until around 1890 that a market developed for the rugs.

 

Keep us posted on what you learn about your rug.

[Augustus McCrae]

flipside of the Navaho rug. I found out is is a Chinle rug and made in 1940 and valued at 1000.00 buy the person that would clean it..but then again he buys and sells rugs also for a living. I believe it to be worth 1500.00-1800.00. Thanks, for your input Stan.

[Augustus McCrae]

Close up..notice the red and blue diamond off center.