Comments on: How to Identify Navajo Textiles

By: Mary Walker

Mary Walker — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:33:34 +0000

Well, from what I can see, no Navajo weavings were harmed in the production of the chair covers, but some Indian dhurries were. Dhurries are flat weaves and share some design elements with Navajo weaving as well as with kilim weaves done in many parts of the Middle East.

By: Jim Reid

Jim Reid — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:44:16 +0000

Hi,
I live in Victoria B.C. Canada.I found six of these at an estate sale in Seattle.They are about 36 inches square. Unfortunately, as you can see, they have been cut to use as chair upholstery. I know nothing about rugs but a couple of people have suggested that they are Navajo.I have sent two more images to your email address. What do you think?

By: Mary Walker

Mary Walker — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:41:48 +0000

You can send the pictures to my email address at mary.walker@weavinginbeauty.com.

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:41:42 +0000

That would be wonderful. Here is a close up of a corner with fringe. I hope they will help. Regardless of where it is from, the wild colors have really grown on me and look good in my daughters room.

I took a few pictures, but it looks like I can only add one at a time. Let me know if you would like to see any others. I took one of the back, too.

Thank you for the help!

By: Mary Walker

Mary Walker — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:05:49 +0000

Katy, thank you for the kind words about the site. Although you sent me a high resolution picture, there are some details that I can’t see well enough to tell you definitively what your rug is. To do that, I need a clear close-up of a small area of the weaving, say about six square inches. I would also like to see close-ups of the fringe area at both ends and a close-up from the sides of the rug that don’t have fringe. My first guess is that the piece was woven in the Middle East and that it’s actually a kilim or soumak, but I can’t tell for sure. What an interesting story and an interesting textile!

UPDATE: Katy, I can say definitively that it is not a Navajo weaving, but I can’t tell you what it is. The fringes on the ends look like they were added after the piece was finished, but they look like they match some of the yarns that were used in the construction of the rug. The design geometry doesn’t look Navajo at all, but the design, technique and coloration don’t really match with any of my reference materials from the Middle East, although I suspect that we’ll find out that it’s some type of soumak from somewhere in the Caucasus. I’ve submitted the pictures to an appraiser’s group that I belong to and usually somebody recognizes the item after about a week. When I find out, I’ll let you know.

Here’s what Ii can tell you
• The yarns all look hand spun
• The fringing appears to have been added after the piece was woven
• The closest the I can come on technique is soumak, but I can’t identify a region where the weaving may have been done
• It may have been USED by a Navajo as a Sunday saddle blanket, which is what I thought it might be when I first looked at it

I’ll let you know when I find out anything else.

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:45:36 +0000

Hi Mary,

I’ve enjoyed your website. I stumbled across it last night while trying to get some history on a rug we have. My husband’s grandmother bought it from a Navajo in 1927 while traveling out west. He was always under the impression that it was an authentic Navajo rug, but once I read your website, I realized it is not. Could you leave me in the right direction as to where it might be from?

Thank you for your time,

Katy

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:40:55 +0000

Hi there,

Thank you,

Katy

By: Teshna

Teshna — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:04:07 +0000

I have enjoyed your website and knowledge greatly. I am asking my Pauite husband today if he will help me build a loom. I have always wanted to build a rug of love or story for my children. Hopefully he will help me..

By: Diana D.

Diana D. — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:22:48 +0000

UPDATE: I finally determined what my rug is after seeing pictures of almost identical rugs online with same symbols. It is a Tribal Persian Kilim rug. It is not a Zapotec. It is flatwoven and made of both cotton and wool .

By: Diana D.

Diana D. — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:50:56 +0000

Hi Mary, I am in NYC. About 4 years ago I found a folded rug that was among some trash on a curb near Broadway. Embarrassing but true. It is definitely woven,not printed.I took it home because it had an ethnic look to it. The rug is very thin and measures 8’3″ X 5’6″, the rug and its fringes feel and look like cotton not wool. It is definitely woven,not printed. I thought it was too pretty to step on so I kept it folded in the closet instead of using as a rug.I am now looking at it again and have done some internet research for 2 days. I think it is a Zapotec (or a fake Zapotec). It has symbols of crosses and birds on it. I don’t know what the pointed symbols are (trees? arrows?). I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide. Thank You. I love the Navajo rugs shown on this website, they are gorgeous. I wish I could fly to the Indian markets and buy the framed miniatures and the rug with the horses on it!