Traditional Navajo Rug Patterns

Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the navajo economy.

Traditional navajo rug patterns.

The reversible jacquard has two dramatically different looks. Many of these navajo rug patterns exhibit a fourfold symmetry which is thought to embody traditional ideas about harmony. They included two gray hills teec nos pos ganado red dominated patterns with black and white crystal oriental and persian styles wide ruins chinlee banded geometric patterns klagetoh diamond type patterns red mesa and bold diamond patterns. Navajo rugs and blankets are textiles produced by navajo people of the four corners area of the united states.

Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for over 150 years. Originating from the two grey hills trading post these navajo rugs are celebrated for their high quality and intricate patterns. The design s roots are in the traditional banded chief stripe pattern which evolved into a nine element layout. The resulting rugs were not literal copies of older pieces but were creative variations on banded designs using a wide palette of newly developed vegetal dye colors made from indigenous plants as well as new subtly colored chemical dyes.

A pattern inspired by mid to late 19th century native american weaving traditions and the influence of spanish missionaries in the southwest. Burntwater designs have similar characteristics to the two grey hills area but are woven using vegetal dye colors. 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. The burntwater navajo rug style was developed by don jacobs in the late 1960s.