When people hear Navajo rugs, they often immediately get images in their minds of the Old West, replete with stage coaches and trading posts. But while there are of course still amazing rugs to be found that are 100 years old+, many people don’t realize that there is also a vibrant and evolving culture around the weaving of contemporary Navajo rugs.
What makes a Navajo rug a Navajo rug isn’t its age or necessarily its provenance. Both vintage and contemporary Navajo rugs can be “authentic” in the sense that they are woven using the materials and methods that characterize the Navajo rug art form.
How Do You Known Whether Contemporary Navajo Rugs Are Authentic?
This is a contemporary Navajo rug woven in a traditional style with dyed churro wool
Contemporary Navajo rugs are considered authentic if they are woven of wool on an upright loom with a continuous warp thread (there are additional indications of authenticity, of course, and there are also exceptions to the rules, but these are a great indication of whether a rug is authentic).
Part of the reason that we love Navajo rugs is because they are such a unique art form–both beautiful and functional, both historic and modern. Contemporary Navajo rugs represent the continuation of this traditional art form, and we love seeing the new patterns and colors that contemporary weavers use to make the art form their own.
These rugs are truly one-of-a-kind works of art, whether they were made yesterday or 100 years ago. Take a look at the rugs on our site–whether you find a historic piece or a contemporary one, we guarantee that it will be of the highest quality and in fantastic condition.
