For collectors of Native American art, Navajo rugs occupy a special place in the heart. The beauty, quality, and durability of these unique textiles also make them a favorite for bringing Southwestern style into your home. Across New Mexico and Arizona, retail stores, galleries, and tourist traps display a vast array of Navajo rugs. How can you make sense of this extravaganza, judge quality and authenticity, and ensure that you get the best value for your money?

Part of Navajo rugs’ value comes from their long, rich tradition. The native Pueblo peoples of the Southwest were already master weavers in ancient times, crafting clothing, baskets, and other textiles using various hand-weaving techniques. The Navajo cultivated cotton, which they initially used to create blankets and rugs. Spanish colonists introduced sheep in the 17th century, and wool soon became the Navajo’s primary medium. Originally these woven goods satisfied the basic needs of everyday life: blankets and rugs, clothing, and serapes, water-resistant wraps worn on damp days. Throughout the 1800s, the Navajo actively traded blankets with other Native American groups, as well as with Hispanic and Anglo visitors and settlers. By the end of the 19th century, many Navajo weavers turned their attention to rugs to satisfy the increasing demand for heavyweight floor coverings.

Traditionally, Navajo weaving began with the long process of yarn preparation. Weavers sheared their own sheep with hand shears, washed the wool in successive warm and tepid soapy baths, then hung it to dry in the sun. Next, they carded the wool, a labor-intensive process of straightening the woolen threads using a comb. After carding, weavers with a simple elongated wooden spindle spun the wool into even threads. They separated the black and white wool and created other colors by boiling plants and nuts.

 

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