Antique Native American Rug

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Navajo textile authority Dr. J. Mark Sublette explains why Navajo blankets are so valuable. In short, it comes down to three factors: scarcity, rarity, and artistry. Navajo blankets are an older form of Navajo weavings, produced from around 1840-1890. These textiles were soft and drapable, meant to be wrapped around the body and worn - they are often called “wearing blankets” for this reason. (Note: Saddle blankets, a smaller and thicker type of weaving, are also highly collectible but don’t command the same price point as a wearing blanket.) Even at the peak of production, Navajo weavings were hard to come by. A blanket could take a weaver up to a year to make - not including the amount of time it took to raise the sheep for the wool.

Perhaps his most important innovation was to introduce weavers in his region to Oriental rug patterns. Rather than copying wholesale, the Navajo filtered the new patterns through their own cultural sensibilities and personal design preferences. In the process, they drew out specific concepts and motifs, re-synthesizing them into distinctly Navajo designs. Motifs probably derived from oriental rugs include repeated hook shapes (often called “latch hooks”), the “waterbug” shaped like an “X” with a bar through the middle, the “airplane” or T-shape with rounded ends and, in a small number of weavings, rosettes. An even more lasting and fundamental influence was the concept of a large central motif in one, two or three parts that covers almost all of the ground between the borders.

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The Yeibichai rug is a depiction of ceremonies in which human dancers (usually 6) impersonate Yeis (the holy people). These dancers will usually be in profile with one leg bent as if dancing. They can be men or the men alternate with women. In these rugs, you may find a medicine man administering to a patient. Other figures may also be included such as a clown and a lead dancer. The Yeibechais are specifically participants of a particular Navajo healing ceremony. Although it is usually a nighttime ceremony, the rug usually does not portray a night scene. The design of this style of Navajo rug usually portrays a cornstalk or a tree growing out of a basket. There will be brightly colored birds, some recognizable such as Cardinals or Woodpeckers. Some will be flying, others perched or sitting around the basket. Often, butterflies, small animals such as rabbits and squirrels, as well as bright flowers and vines will be present.

Antique Native American Rug

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Navajo rugs usually have a wool warp. If you’re not an expert in fibers, it may be difficult for you to tell what kind of warp was used, but in general cotton and linen are smoother than wool. Wool is, well, wooly. As you can see from the picture at the right, it has little fibers that stick out from the warp threads. Remember that there is one genuine Navajo rug (the Gallup throw) that is woven with a cotton warp. Also bear in mind that cotton was widely used as warp in the late 1800’s. Look at the other indicators to determine the authenticity of the piece, but use the fiber content of the warp as part of your authentication.

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Dr. J. Mark Sublette discusses the proper way to care for authentic Navajo rugs and Navajo blankets. This video is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in collecting authentic Navajo rugs or blankets. Dr. J. Mark Sublette explains the pitfalls and condenses over 25 years of experience into one tutorial video. This video by Medicine Man Gallery CEO Dr. J. Mark Sublette will explain how professional art dealers value and buy authentic Navajo rugs and Navajo blankets. Whether you haven’t purchased your first rug yet or have been collecting for years, you need to see this video.

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These blankets were highly prized trade items for tribes that didn't have their own weaving traditions. Even back then, Navajo blankets weren't affordable, so it was difficult for tribe members to afford one. Plains cultures valued Navajo blankets, especially for their warmth and comfort. One way to identify a man riding on horseback wearing one these weavings is by the design of his blanket, before his features become visible. The Navajo tradition of weaving blankets was that they were worn by Navajo for approximately 50 years. The advent of mechanical weaving technologies and the availability of affordable blankets, such as those manufactured by Pendleton Woolen Mills, marked the end to the era.

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These early weavings made before the 1870s are very rare, bringing tens of thousands of dollars-or more-from collectors and museums. The so-called Chief’s Blanket is a specific style of manta that went through a distinct design evolution. First Phase blankets were made from about 1800 to 1850 and consisted simply of brown (or blue) and white stripes with the top, bottom and center stripes usually being wider than the others. Second Phase blankets included small red rectangles at the center and ends of the darker stripes and were made about 1840 to 1870. The Third Phase type, between 1860 and 1880, saw the addition of stepped or serrated diamonds of color to the center and ends of the wide stripes. In weavings of the Fourth Phase, made from 1870 through the early 1900s, diamond motifs became larger and more elaborate, often overtaking the stripes as primary design elements. Revivals of chief’s blankets-usually made as rugs-have been popular since the 1950s.