Rare Navajo Rug with a Vivid Indigo Color Background [SOLD]

This is a rarity among weavings by the Diné of the Navajo Nation.  The background color is that of Indigo.  When examined, it is apparent that there were many different dye lots of the blue, indicating that the wool was dyed as the weaver needed more yarn.  It is these variations in shades that make the textile interesting, as the variations in color throughout add texture and interest.

Floating on this ocean blue background are diamonds and triangles of varying sizes, shapes, and configurations.  The central diamond is a series of six bands—blue, red, sand, blue, red, and black/brown— from the inner to the outer triangle.  There are then two design elements that start with rectangles—white, brown, sand—with long bars on two sides and white triangles on the other two sides.  These elements float on a red triangular background.

The other design elements are stacked triangles, on the two sides of the rug, and sand, brown, and white diamonds at the ends of the rug.  Small white triangles float around the ends and edges of the textile.

In some of the designs, the weaver mixed black and brown yarn colors in the same design element and put a one-inch dark brown line at one end of the rug.  She finished off the textile with a frame of red as a border.

The textile is one that was most likely made for use on the floor but would work equally well as a wall hanging.  For either use, it is a stunning work of art.

Condition: very good condition with obvious prior use on the floor

Provenance: this Rare Navajo Rug with a Vivid Indigo Color Background is from the collection of a gentleman from California

Recommended Reading: The Navajo Weaving Tradition 1650 to the Present by Alice Kaufman and Christopher Selser

Relative Links: textiles, Navajo Nation