Traditional Navajo Rug Patterns

Two grey hills rugs are woven of natural handspun wool in neutral.

Traditional navajo rug patterns.

A pattern inspired by mid to late 19th century native american weaving traditions and the influence of spanish missionaries in the southwest. They included two gray hills teec nos pos ganado red dominated patterns with black and white crystal oriental and persian styles wide ruins chinlee banded geometric patterns klagetoh diamond type patterns red mesa and bold diamond patterns. The colors are warm rich colors of brown mustard tan and rust accented by rose green blue lilac and white. Navajo rugs and blankets are textiles produced by navajo people of the four corners area of the united states.

Many of these navajo rug patterns exhibit a fourfold symmetry which is thought to embody traditional ideas about harmony. 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 reversible jacquard has two dramatically different looks. 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.

The design s roots are in the traditional banded chief stripe pattern which evolved into a nine element layout. Originating from the two grey hills trading post these navajo rugs are celebrated for their high quality and intricate patterns. Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the navajo economy. The burntwater navajo rug style was developed by don jacobs in the late 1960s.