Early 20th Century Navajo Ganado Rug
A rectangular hand-woven Navajo textile, likely a Ganado or Klagetoh regional style, dating to the early 20th century (c. 1910-1930). The rug is crafted from hand-spun wool in a natural and dyed palette of charcoal black, carded grey, cream, and a deep cochineal-style red. The composition features a central terraced medallion containing a red cross motif, flanked by white whirling logs (swastikas), which were common traditional symbols for luck and prosperity in Navajo spirituality prior to the 1940s. The field contains geometric cartouches and stepped 'lightning' lines, enclosed by a serrated black and white border. The weaving shows tight tension and characteristic vertical ribbing. Condition appears fair to good for its age, with visible edge wear, slight corner curling, and some fraying of the warp threads at the top and bottom selvages. A blue collector's tag is pinned to the right margin, indicating provenance or cataloging history. The use of hand-spun grey and high-contrast red suggests heritage dyes and wool processing techniques indicative of pre-WWII artisan weaving. No specific weaver's mark is visible, as is typical for historical Navajo textiles from this era.
AI-Generated Appraisal Disclaimer
Estimated Value
$4,500 - $6,500
Basic Information
Category
Native American Textiles and Rugs
Appraised On
December 28, 2025
Estimated Value
$4,500 - $6,500
Item Description
A rectangular hand-woven Navajo textile, likely a Ganado or Klagetoh regional style, dating to the early 20th century (c. 1910-1930). The rug is crafted from hand-spun wool in a natural and dyed palette of charcoal black, carded grey, cream, and a deep cochineal-style red. The composition features a central terraced medallion containing a red cross motif, flanked by white whirling logs (swastikas), which were common traditional symbols for luck and prosperity in Navajo spirituality prior to the 1940s. The field contains geometric cartouches and stepped 'lightning' lines, enclosed by a serrated black and white border. The weaving shows tight tension and characteristic vertical ribbing. Condition appears fair to good for its age, with visible edge wear, slight corner curling, and some fraying of the warp threads at the top and bottom selvages. A blue collector's tag is pinned to the right margin, indicating provenance or cataloging history. The use of hand-spun grey and high-contrast red suggests heritage dyes and wool processing techniques indicative of pre-WWII artisan weaving. No specific weaver's mark is visible, as is typical for historical Navajo textiles from this era.
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