Traditional Navajo Rug Patterns

As one expert expresses it classic navajo serapes at their finest equal the delicacy and sophistication of any pre mechanical loom woven textile in the world navajo textiles were or.

Traditional navajo rug patterns.

The reversible jacquard has two dramatically different looks. Many of these navajo rug patterns exhibit a fourfold symmetry which is thought to embody traditional ideas about harmony. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for over 150 years. Two grey hills rugs are woven of natural handspun wool in neutral.

Originating from the two grey hills trading post these navajo rugs are celebrated for their high quality and intricate patterns. The impetus behind this trend came primarily from anglo collectors traders and government agencies that had a sincere desire to upgrade the quality of navajo weaving and return to traditional pre rug patterns. Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the navajo economy. A pattern inspired by mid to late 19th century native american weaving traditions and the influence of spanish missionaries in the southwest.

Burntwater designs have similar characteristics to the two grey hills area but are woven using vegetal dye colors. The burntwater navajo rug style was developed by don jacobs in the late 1960s. The resulting rugs were not literal copies of older pieces but were creative variations on banded designs using a wide palette of newly developed vegetal dye colors made from indigenous plants as well as new subtly colored chemical dyes. The colors are warm rich colors of brown mustard tan and rust accented by rose green blue lilac and white.