Navajo (?) rug

This has been on my parents' wall for about 50 years. They got it out west late 1960s to early 70s. It's wool. I'd love for someone to tell me it's a Navajo rug.

 

You will also need to show the corner of the rug with the tassels.

Just because ... someone has the same one here ...
https://www.instagram.com/vintagehomedecorct/p/C_GbPZ0vKsG/

 

Sorry, but not Navajo. The fringe along the bottom edge, and the double thickness of the warps on the side indicate that it was made on a floor loom. Most probably Mexican, by Zapotec weavers -

https://thezapotecweavers.com/

There have been many discussions about the characteristics of genuine Navajo rugs here on the forum. Try a search for "Navajo rug" posted by Taupou.

 

A handsome rug nevertheless.

Debora

 

That makes a lot of sense as my parents traveled extensively through Mexico.

 

And believe you me, those Mexican weavings are found far outside Mexico.

 

I know next to nothing about these blankets, but as I scrolled I thought this was Mexican because I have 3 from my family that were bought there and look exactly the same in tassels and weave.

 

The reason Navajo rugs are not woven with fringe on both ends is because they use a unique loom and weaving technique, unlike the rest of the world. It is impossible to weave a rug with fringe on both ends on a Navajo loom.

A Navajo loom is upright, unlike the looms used by the rest of the world, and the Navajo loom is individually warped, with a continuous warp, which means that the size of every rug is predetermined before it is made, so only one rug can be made from each warping of the loom.

The rest of the world uses floor looms, or backstrap looms, which are warped differently. The resulting weavings are all the width of the warped loom, but spaces can be left between each weaving on the warp, which becomes the "fringe" when cut and tied off to keep the weaving from unraveling. (Since many pieces can be made on a single warping, it also accounts for Navajo rugs being more expensive than others.)

For a time, in the late 1800s, Navajo weavers were encouraged to add a fringe after the weaving was finished and taken off the loom, to make it look more like the rugs made in the rest of the world. This especially happened on so-called "Gemantown" rugs. But it is an addition sewn on, or added later, not part of the weaving itself. So the "no fringe on both ends" has become the easiest way to tell an authentic Navajo rug ever since.