What Are the Earliest Native American Rugs?
There are many types of Native American rugs. Among them, there are Navajo rugs. Despite the name, these rugs are made by the Athabascan people who came to the southwest from Canada in the 15th century. In this article, we will look at early examples, Yeibechai rugs, and Ganado rugs. To help you decide which one to buy, you should read this article.
Early examples of Navajo rugs
Navajo rugs have made their way into Western civilization since the late nineteenth century. Traditionally, the Navajo people made blankets, but competition between tribes forced them into the home decoration business. They began living in the Four Corners region in the fifteenth century and settled in the Southwest by the sixteenth. Today, Navajo rugs are popular showpieces throughout the world.
Regional style rugs
Historically, the name regional style was used for a variety of styles of Native American rugs. These rugs were made with designs from other regions, but the pattern names are used to describe patterns as a whole. However, today, regional style is used only to describe patterns that are common to a region. For example, in the early period of rug-making, Juan Lorenzo Hubbell was the most important trader. He operated from several trading posts near the Reservation, including Ganado, Arizona.
Yeibechai rugs
Shiprock Yeibichai rugs are examples of Navajo art. The Navajo Yei rugs are examples of early art that portrays ceremonial pageantry. Will Evans was drawn to these rugs for many reasons, including their spiritual significance and their artistry. It also illustrates the courage of the weavers who broke away from tradition a century ago.
Ganado rugs
Known for their vibrant “Ganado red” color, Ganado Navajo rugs are often bordered with black, white, or grey elements. The central design is often a diamond or lozenge with a black border and some weaver-specific details. These rugs often feature stair-step designs or other triangular geometric shapes. The border colors are typically a deep red or grey.
Klagetoh rugs
The elongated diamond center design and grey background of this Navajo floor rug make it one of the most distinctive and collectible of the Navajo tribe’s rugs. The rugs are hand-woven with natural undyed wool, and the colors vary between tan and brown. This rug features an interlocking diamond motif that spans the entire rug. The outer border is brown with an inner border of red. The four corners are embellished with intricate stepped designs.
Germantown rugs
Early Navajo rug weavings are known as Bidjar rugs. Although they are derived from a common foundation pattern, they were created by a network of subcontractors who made their rugs in the surrounding areas. Since the trader’s control over the rural contractors was much less than that over the weavers of the factory, some of these rugs may vary in design and style. Regardless of the region of origin, Bidjar rugs are valuable pieces of Native American art.
