Native American Rug #1 Swastika/Rolling Log

Posting three different "Native American" rugs. At least I am HOPING as such! Any idea on age or tribe? Measures 20 by 18 inches. Any idea how to clean it? I don't think it would be a good candidate for my new wash machine?

 

none look good for a machine.......and this red is likely to bleed...

 

Definitely no washing machine!

And there's names other than 'swastika,' since that term has such horrendous connotations.

At first glance it looked more like an antique (or nearly so) Chimayo weaving (from New Mexico, not Native American). But as with the other two, it may also be Navajo. The deciding factor is if the vertical warp threads are continuous, reaching the top and then 'turning' back down. Since the edges are so damaged it's hard to tell, but you should be able find a few warps that are intact: if they loop back down into the weaving, it's likely Navajo.

 

It is made with commercial yarns. Yarns made by Navajo weavers are single ply. Both the warp and weft of this textile are plied (several yarns twisted together). The Navajo did buy and use "Germantown" machine spun and plied yarn for some of their textiles in the late 19th and early 20th century, but I am not seeing any other features that would be typical of Navajo weaving, such as edge cords. As Pottery noted, the ends are too damaged to see if the warp structure would be correct for a Navajo loom.

 

awesome info! thanks so much!