How Were Navajo Rugs Woven?
Interested in how Navajo rugs were woven? The weaving process is one hundred percent handcrafted. The weft and warp materials are cotton or wool. The motifs used for Navajo weaving are known as ye’ii. The rugs depict ye’ii figures and were not intended for worship. Traders were also a source of inspiration for Navajo art.
Navajo weaving is one hundred percent handmade
In the early 1880s, railroad service reached Navajo territory, which greatly increased the market for woven goods. Wool production doubled, textile production grew by 800%, and purchases of manufactured yarn made up the difference. During this period, weaving continued to be done almost exclusively by women, according to federal government reports. However, as production increased, quality declined, and weavers struggled to keep up. Today, the average price of a Navajo rug is $8000.
It uses wool or cotton for warp and wool for weft
The term “Navajo Rug” is often associated with the rugs woven in the southwest region of the Great Republic. These rugs use wool or cotton for the warp and weft and are typically woven in patterns and colors favored by the Indigenous Inhabitants. While many of these rugs have no knots, many are made with more than fifteen balls of yarn.
It depicts ye’ii figures
Navajo rugs depict Ye’ii figures. Yes, are holy figures who can communicate with the Navajo gods. They are depicted as tall slender figures carrying rattles and cornstalks. Some rugs even depict Yes as sleeping. However, not all Yei rugs are Yei depictions. Here are some examples of Yei rugs and their meanings.
It is influenced by traders
The patterns on Navajo Rugs have been heavily influenced by traders since the late 1800s. Traders began to demand weavings suitable for use as rugs and floor coverings. During this time, borders were introduced and rugs became more complex. As a result, Navajo rugs adopted the patterns of other cultures and became popular worldwide. Although the Navajo people have always produced blankets for personal use, they accidentally became involved in home decoration when competition and trends began to overtake them.
It has pictorial motifs
Traditionally, Navajo Rugs feature pictorial motifs and are among the most popular pieces of art. In fact, the pictorial motifs are so popular that weavers have started weaving them since the 19th century. Although these designs often feature feathers and arrows, animals, and geometric patterns, some artists have begun to fill their rugs with single pictorial scenes in the second half of the 20th century. The tree of life pattern, for example, features a cornstalk emerging from a Navajo wedding basket with birds perched on its leaves. This design celebrates the natural world and teaches us to live in harmony with nature.
It is a silent art form
Navajo rugs have pictorial designs, which are often inspired by a particular place. These weavings date back to the late 1800s, reflecting the cultural effects of railroads and trading posts in the Southwest. Today, a textiles exhibit at the Museum of the American West explores the lives of Navajos on the reservation. The exhibition also offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about Navajo culture and history, including the impact of colonialism and settler settlements on their culture.
