native american indian rugs repair
There are two exceptions from the "no fringe” rule. Germantown rugs have fringe that is added to the rug after it has been woven. They are extremely rare and you will see one in the picture below. Although the fringe of an antique Germantown may have been partially removed or lost entirely, it does not affect the structure of the textile as the fringe is an addition. Gallup throws are another exception to the rule. These pieces are usually about 18'' by 24-inches in size and are woven in Gallup. Gallup throws are typically woven using a cotton warp. We cut the weaving off and have it knotted, rather than finishing in the traditional way. There is also a fringe at one end. There are thousands upon thousands of Gallup throws available that were sold along the Sante Fe railway to train passengers. They are a good addition to any collection. They typically cost between $40- $50. I've even seen them go for $250 on ebay.
They also were known for very finely spun wool of small diameter which they used to make very thin, dense, and tightly woven rugs that are certainly the greatest technical achievements in the history of Navajo rug making. Many of the women who weave for nearby Taodlena Trading Post carry on this tradition of quality. The most finely woven rugs are often called tapestry rugs. Beginning in the 1920s, weavers and traders developed several new regional styles based on a revival of early banded patterns and the predominant use of vegetal dyes. 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.
As you might have guessed, because they take so much time and effort to weave, these rugs automatically get a relatively higher price tag. The antique Navajo rugs are the ones that are weaved before the 1950s. These have a touch of history to them. On the other hand, the contemporary ones are the ones that are weaved from 1950 to the present. In comparison, the antique ones are pricier than the others.
Who was I to judge this? I am not an expert on Native American history. I was intrigued enough to read on. It was full of historical significance and had an amazing provenance, which I found to my delight!It dates back to mid-nineteenth-century, when John Chantland, a Scandinavian immigrant from Norway, traded unspecified goods for it. It was passed down through the generations until its recent sale.Native American blankets are a relic from the "First Phase" Navajo weaving. Using techniques derived from the Puebla the Navajos woven tightly-woven blankets with a simple striped pattern, using the finest wool available.
Authentic Navajo rugs are made by hand, often over a period of several years, and are usually made of quality sheep wool. They can cost thousands of dollars and are meant to be heirlooms for generations to come. Authentic Navajo rugs have unique designs, such as the Teec Nos Pas rugs from northeastern Arizona. This uniqueness makes each piece more beautiful and adds to the price tag.
Many Navajo rugs will have what Indian arts dealers call, "lazy lines." It is an inaccurate and insulting term that I hope will be replaced by the term, "Section Line." The section line line is a diagonal joint or break in the weave where a weaver has worked on a single section of the rug without having to reach all the way across the rug. She weaves one section, then moves over and weaves another section. This creates the diagonal section line. Not all Navajo rugs have section lines. The end borders in Mexican imitation Navajo rugs are generally much wider than in a genuine Navajo rug. Side borders are often wider as well.
Another common format is called the “Tree of Life” pattern, consisting of a corn stalk rising from a Navajo wedding basket, with birds adorning the leaves of the cornstalk. Despite the obvious symbolism of patterns such as the “Tree of Life,” most pictorial motifs had no specific religious meaning; they simply were objects common in the culture or of special interest to the weaver. The major exceptions to this rule, however, were weavings that portrayed Yeis, or Navajo Holy People, and weavings that recreated sacred ceremonial sand paintings. A small number of weavers made Sand Painting Rugs as early as the 1890s in the area around Two Grey Hills. Most famously, the medicine man Hosteen Klah made a series of sand painting rugs with the help of his mother and nieces between 1919 and 1936.
