Browse all categories
106 Show & Tell Posts Today

Collectors Weekly

In many ways, the story of Navajo rugs is intertwined with the story of Native American blankets. Weaving among Native Americans first began with the Pueblo people more than 1,000 years ago. Between approximately 1050 and 1300, they produced a wide array of blankets using vertical looms. Cotton was the material of choice, but in the 1500s, the Spanish brought churro sheep to America and forced the Puebloans to weave with wool.

After a Pueblo uprising drove the Spaniards out around 1680, the Spaniards returned in greater numbers in 1692. Their brutality prompted many Pueblo people to take refuge with the Navajo. Thanks to this mingling of cultures, the Navajo learned wool weaving from the Pueblo people. Navajo textiles soon become respected and well known for their quality and artistry.

By the late 19th century, the preferences of white tourists dictated what Native American weavers produced. For example, weavers noticed that many Navajo blanket owners were simp...

Similarly, blanket customers began using their purchases for decoration rather than on bedding, so many weavers switched from homespun fiber to inferior but cheaper prefabricated yarn. With the adoption of Germantown fibers and aniline dyes, the palette of available colors exploded, and Navajo blankets suddenly became extremely multi-colored.

Even as Native Americans were evolving what they produced to better appeal to the tourist trade, less-expensive manufactured fabrics were pushing their products aside. But in the 1920s, Navajo weaving enjoyed a renewed level of attention that continues to this day.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

Native Hopi Blanket - Native Americanby emersonesta…
in Native American
1 year ago
Wool Wall Hanging - Native Americanby celestinafast
in Native American
8 months ago
Patched cowhide circle w/ fringe???? - Native Americanby willow43
in Native American
2 years ago
See all Native American rugs and blankets posts

Interviews & Articles

Why the 'Native' Fashion Trend Is Pissing Off Real Native Americans

Tis the season for buying presents. As you peruse your local mall, you might find yourself drawn to beautiful geometric patterns i… [more]

Katsina or Kachina? Barry Walsh on the Spiritual Roots of Native American Dolls

Katsinas are representations of spirit beings, so they should convey a certain amount of spirituality. The old ones generally do t… [more]

Native American Jewelry Author Mark Bahti Talks Turquoise and Squash Blossoms

Thanks to my father, I basically grew up involved with Indian arts and culture. He was a graduate of the University of New Mexico … [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

LACMA Luxury Textiles

LACMA Luxury Textiles

Textile collectors shouldn't miss this microsite from the LA County Museum of Art, a great reference on European an… [read review or visit site]

First American Art

First American Art

The companion website to First American Art: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of American Indian Art, which… [read review or visit site]



Top eBay Auctions

See all 50 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Phase Ii Navajo Woman's Chief Blanket (1885) New Lower Reserve--must Sell40s Klagetoh Navajo Rug Native American Indian Blanket Navaho Textile Weaving NrGiant Vintage Navajo Indian Red Mesa Weaving Rug Room Sized Super Visual No Rsrv1915-25 Churro Dbl Diamond Navajo Rug Native American Indian Blanket Navaho WoolStriking Hvy Navajo D.a.jackson Rug Design Overlay BraceletNavajo Ganado Rug - Hubbell Trading PostAntique 1910 Native American Navajo Indian Eye Dazzler Wool Blanket 85"x 52" NrVintage Navajo Saddle Blanket Or RugHandmade Navajo Indian Rug (or Blanket) Circa 1940 Or Earlier... 43" X 29"A 51"x32" Navaho Rug Gorgeous Vintage 1970's "two Grey Hills" Navajo Rug By Weaver-leruse Thinn, Nr C1915 Churro Crystal Navajo Rug Native American Indian Blanket Navaho Diamond NrVintage Navajo Rug Blanket - Large Eye Dazzler - 50 X 74Vintage Large Navajo Rug Transitional Period (1868-1890) Very Fine Old Navajo Native Indian Rug Weaving - Feathers & Diamonds40s Dbl Saddle Blanket Navajo Rug Native American Indian Navaho Textile Weaving New Two Grey Hills Navajo Rug 1950Very Old Navajo BlanketVery Old Navajo Third Phase Chiefs Blanket Circa 1900Vintage Navajo Indian Rolling Logs Swastica Rug 37 X 18Nice Old Vintage Native American Indian Navajo Rug 56 3/4" X 39 1/2"Vintage Navajo Handmade 100% Sheeps Wool Rug - 20"x 24" - 'storm' PatternVintage Native American Hopi Indian Rug Weaving Tumbling Block ColorUnusual Beautiful Antique Vintage Native American Indian Navajo RugVintage Navajo Indian Rug 33 X 22Vintage Navajo Indian Rug 35 X 20Yei Navajo Rug / Weaving / Art WorkRare Twill & Beaded Round Navajo Rug Native American Indian Blanket Navaho NrVintage Native American Navajo Wool RugRare Indian Wool Blanket Size 72" X 44"Native American Small Blanket Wall HangingNavajo Southwestern Aztec Wool Rug Wall Hanging Blanket Large 2.5 X 5.5Vintage Arizona Navajo Native American Hand Woven Rug Wall Hanging 20 X 22 1/2"Vintage Native American Wool Runner Rug Natural Dyes 37 X 64 Inches Antique Vintage Cheyenne Arapaho Blanket Rug Chief Native American Indian 60 77Vintage Small Navajo Native American RugVintage Navajo Doll With Beads & Baby Papoose Southwest Rug WeavingVintage Navajo Rug Blanket - 53 X 26Old Navajo Saddle Blanket Rug 46" X 22"Miniature Navajo Indian Pictorial Xmas Tree Hand Woven Wool Rug By Lorraine MarkRare Vintage Indian Navajo Rug Unique Saddle Blanket 28 X 58 "good Tight WeaveVintage 13 Inch Indian Doll With Navajo Style Wool Blanket Robe EstateNative American Navajo Saddle Blanket Wool Vintage Diamonds Red Black 39 X 52 "New Native Southwestern Mexican Falsa Blanket Western Table Runner 14x86 Blue GVtg. Native American Print Rug Throw Plains Northwest 38" X 27" Hand WovenVintage Navajo Rug/ Excellent CraftsmanshipVintage Native Navajo Indian Figural Rug Woven Blanket One Of A Kind Hand MadeNative American Blanket Capote Craft Pattern Sz Men 30-50 Women 8-20Nice! Southwestern Native American Rug - Loom Woven North American Indian