Featured Possible Navajo ?

This one looks more promising than some others I’ve seen in the wild and asked about. What say y’all? Navajo or Navafaux? Or a traditional design from elsewhere not trying to be anything other than what it is?

I don’t own it, these are the only pics available.

 

It's hard to tell from the pictures. It does look promising, but I can't see the corners and edges very clearly, which are important in identification.

@Taupou once noted that seeing the underlying white warp threads was rare, as Navajo weavings tend to be very tight and complete.

If the 'widths' of those warps in the black, where the clips are attached, are wider than the width of the warps that then extend below them into the red, gold and white, that means that loose warp cords were woven back into the textile and is an indication of a Mexican weaving. A Navajo weaving like this is made with a hugely long single continuous warp cord as the foundation and therefore has no fringe. Sometimes imitations sneak those loose ends back into the weaving to disguise it.

(Hopefully all that makes sense )

 

I think that makes sense! They didn’t do a good job capturing the corners in the photos. Either because they didn’t realize they were important or because they did maybe. Not sure which.

 

it looks Navajo...but something about it throws me off.....
could be the squares...or the gaudy red & orange style key design.....

maybe it's just a newer rug ??????

 

Could be. Something about it doesn’t seem quite right to me but I don’t know enough to put a finger on it.

 

My first thought was made in Pakistan, but let's wait for Taupou.
Frankly I didn't even know the Pakistani made Navajo style rugs, just an idea they could. Turns out they do.

Their 'Navajo design' rugs often include that orangey-ochre colour. Towards the end of this (swinging) video you can see different types, including rugs with orange Yeis:



So, nice rug, and handmade, but I would pass.

 

It looks too deliberate, if that makes sense.

 

I agree - based on the photos it is a little suspicious. In addition to the white warp ends visible at the top and bottom, the selvage edges look fat, like they contain multiple warps. And there do not appear to be edge cords. I am not sure I like the colors and the design along the edges, either. It is interesting, though, that they incorporated some things that look like lazy lines (near the bottom end in first picture). If it is indeed Mexican, they were seriously trying to mimic Navajo

 

It does to me, and I agree.

 

It looks, to me, like a good copy, but not one good enough to be authentic.

The white spots of warp thread showing through are troubling, as mentioned. But even more, are what appears to be a difference in the texture of first couple inches of the rug (beneath the clips), plus the thick outer warp on the edge of the rug.

The difference in texture often is a sign that the ends of the warp have been woven back into the rug. And the thick outside warp (made up of three or more warp threads, or a thicker yarn) is a sure sign of a non-Navajo copy.

For those reasons, I wouldn't buy it (unless it was really, really cheap, and I could use it as an example of what to question!)

 

Wonderful. Baskets and rugs being copied now. Great video find, Any. The weaving technique is closer to actual Navajo technique, with the use of the comb beater, just on a low floor loom rather than upright. They don't show the set up for the ends, or if more than one rug is woven in series on the same warp.

Looking for other differences that might help us distinguish them - the wool yarn is lumpier, and looks like there are multiple plies (more than one thread included in the yarn). Handspun Navajo wool is usually only single ply.

There is a certain irony in the situation. Many of the designs used in Navajo rugs were introduced by traders, who encouraged the weavers to use patterns from popular oriental rugs.

 

Get ready to be wary of rugs such as this collection, made in Azerbaijan. Love the corner tassels -
https://englishelm.com/products/pasargad-navajo-allover-navajo-wool-rug?variant=42673215602855

 

Looking a little more closely at the pictures on a desktop computer, it may even be that the weaving is made from cotton. That'd be a sure indication of inauthenticity.

 

I thought the same thing.

 

Looks like you were on the money with the warps!

 

Thanks so much guys! Y’all are such an amazing bunch to bounce things off of and learn from.