The History of Navajo Rugs

Native Americans have long been recognized for their unique art forms. Hand woven baskets and ornate headdresses are closely associated with many tribes, but did you know that the Navajo nation produced rugs? Some of which Select Floor Care is still cleaning today!

The History of Navajo Rugs
According to historians, the Navajo people were likely introduced to the art of weaving by the Pueblo Indians who had in turn been taught by the Spanish. However, Navajo weaving goes far beyond threading fibers within a loom. In fact, the Navajo people have strived to preserve the purity of their art form by resisting modern influences. For example, Navajo women who weave rugs and blankets oversee the operation from start to finish, including raising their sheep, shearing, spinning and dying their own wool.

Traditionally, Navajo rugs are crafted on a crude loom constructed of wooden poles selected by the artisan herself. The rug is woven from the bottom up, with no pre-set pattern or size and each rug being a truly unique, one-of-a-kind piece.

While early weavings were utilized as blankets and clothing for the Navajo people, by 1890 there was no real demand for Navajo weavings as textiles. However, traders began to recognize that an outside market existed for weavings creates as rugs, rather than blankets. With the Santa Fe railroad running along the Southern edge of the Navajo Nation, tourists and missionaries were able to easily access and purchase Navajo rugs. In 1869, C.N. Gallup, a trader based in New Mexico, published a catalog of Navajo rugs for sale to people throughout the country. Today, many Navajo rug styles are referred to by the trading post the influenced their style due to customer demand and person tastes of the traders.

The Spiritual Significance of Navajo Weaving
Unlike historians, who credit the Pueblo Indians with introducing the Navajo Nation to weaving, the Navajo people give credit to a divine spirit for teaching them this craft. As the legend goes, Spider Man taught the people to weave, using spider web as the warp of the loom and a sky-cord and sun halo as the crosspoles. For the Navajo Nation, rug and blanket weaving is a spiritual craft paying homage to Spider Man.

Symbols in Navajo Weaving
It should be no surprise that the patterns and colors in Navajo rug weavings hold special significance. For example:
•    White represents morning light of the Eastern sky
•    Yellow or Brown represent the sunset of the Western sky
•    Red represents the light of the sun
•    Grey stands for the clouds of the Southern sky
•    Black represents the Northern sky

Navajo rugs are a well constructed and durable piece of art that is prominent in homes, cabins and lodges  to this very day. Here at Select Floor Care, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to clean this selection of Navajo rugs recently. With a highly educated and well-trained team of floor care specialists, Select Floor Care is here to help restore and clean your Navajo rugs!

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