Navajo Nation Crystal Trading Post Floor Rug with Serrated Diamonds

This early twentieth-century rug was woven in the region of the Crystal Trading Post, located in the Chuska Mountains of northwestern New Mexico. The Chuska Range runs along the Arizona–New Mexico border, crossing through Apache County in Arizona and McKinley and San Juan Counties in New Mexico. Crystal Trading Post sits on one side of the range, with Two Grey Hills on the other, both long associated with exceptional Navajo weaving traditions. The best-known trader at Crystal was J. B. Moore, who operated the post until his departure in 1911.

Moore is credited with elevating the profile of Navajo weaving through his innovative use of mail-order catalogs, which featured rug designs that could be commissioned in various sizes. Once an order was placed, he would assign the commission to the individual weaver whose original rug had inspired the buyer. Although Moore left Crystal in 1911, the distinctive patterns he helped popularize continued to influence local weaving for years afterward.

A similar design to this example appears in Moore’s 1911 catalog as plate #XV, which likely served as the inspiration. The floating serrated diamonds on a gray ground echo the style he promoted, though adapted to a slightly later aesthetic. This rug dates to around the 1940s and features a soft gray field created from carded white and black wool, producing a salt-and-pepper effect. The deep red accents were achieved using aniline dye, adding contrast and warmth to the composition.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Navajo Nation Crystal Trading Post Floor Rug with Serrated Diamonds comes from the estate of the clients who purchased it from us about a decade ago.

Recommended Reading: One Hundred Years of Navajo Rugs by Marian E. Rodee

TAGS: Textiles, Navajo Nation