Handmade Native American Rugs

Continuous warp, lazy lines and selvage lines are three of the best ways to help identify an authentic Navajo rug. The price of the rug should also be considered. Be wary of Navajo rugs priced at $200 or less, as this can be a clear indicator of a fake. Almost all Navajo rugs are made from wool threads, which appear rougher in texture than cotton or linen. Fringe and ridges along the edge of the rug typically indicate a fake. Warp threads that have been cut and run back into the rug will create ridges on the ends. Almost all Navajo rugs are made without fringe.

Rugs woven in the Ukraine will be good reproductions of Navajo rug designs. The sides selvages have bundled warps and the ends will be nicely hand serged. These rugs are really flatwoven rugs with southwestern or Navajo style designs. Unfortunately they are often sold as the genuine article in Indian arts stores.

A Navajo Rug made with hand-spun wool will cost you more than one made from mass-produced yarn. Because the wool is thicker and more smooth, you will pay more. Tapestries are rugs with more than 80 threads per inch. A well-made rug will have even edges and a balanced design. The rug will not be uniform as weavers can add imperfections to their work. Prices of Navajo rugs vary depending on their size, age, provenance, and origin. A small rug might cost about $100 while a larger rug, which is more expensive, can run up to $41,600. A large rug can take up to three years to make. It is more expensive to buy antique rugs than modern rugs. As a matter fact, the price of a Navajo rug is likely to rise as its provenance grows.

This rug design looks almost Persian and perhaps least likea Navajo. It is a very busy and bold design with a wide border filled witha variety of motifs, especially a lightning path. It is a complex design andthe rugs are often large. The centers of these rugs are quite elaborate withfeathers, arrows, and claw-like hooks extending from the points of diamonds andtriangles. Zigzags will be everywhere. There are really no color rules, except they should harmonize.This design also contains a lot of diagonal lines. The name of the rug comes from a settlement in the NE cornerof the Navajo nation and means ‘Cottonwoods in a Circle.’ This is a very interestingrug and has some distinguishable design features. In the center of the rug willbe a rectangle that represents the center of the universe.