Navajo Rugs

Authentic Navajo Rugs for Sale

The Navajo rugs for sale on our website are all authentic, handwoven by skilled Navajo weavers. We have more than ten different types of Navajo rugs styles online, from genuine antique rugs, to modern day, contemporary rugs.

Burntwater Navajo Rugs

Our Burntwater Navajo rugs were developed by Bruce Burhnam and Don Jacobs. Burntwater rugs are known for their pastel colors and native vegetal dyes. The designs are from Central Diamond and Four Sacred Mountain introduced from traders at the turn of the century. Each one of these rugs have been handmade and weaved with articulation in mind. Burntwater rugs are most recent developments of the 1960’s that encouraged local weavers to create these beautiful designs. If you have any questions about our Burntwater rugs, please contact us today.

Navajo Pictorial Rugs

Our Navajo Pictorial rugs portray art of a variety of themes including religious ceremonies, scenes of daily life, and bird pictorials. Pictorial rugs began to show up as early as the 1860’s and are still used as an artistic expression in Native American culture today. You will find an array of Navajo Pictorial rugs such tree of life, yei, and more. All our pictorial rugs are handwoven and true to the imagination of the weaver. If you have any questions about Navajo pictorial rugs, contact us today and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have, or browse our online selection.

Two Grey Hills Navajo Rugs

Another one of the most common types of Navajo rugs you’ll find are Two Gray Hills rugs. These rugs are commonly known for their exclusive use of natural wool colors such as browns and greys. They are known for great artistic quality because of the complicated designs and fine hand spinning that these weavers created. Popular Two Gray Hills weavers are Daisy Tauglachee, Clara Sherman, and James Sherman. If you are looking for quality and artistic handwoven Navajo blankets, then browse through our Two Grey Hills collection today.

The History of Navajo Rugs

It is difficult to speak of the Native American rugs of today without addressing antique Navajo blankets and Navajo history. The Navajo, among all the weavers of Native American blankets, have throughout history been considered the masters in weaving.

The history of these rugs is a long one that has threatened to end many times, and yet has still revived. Native American blankets, rugs and weavings of the Pueblos all suffered declines and revivals, but no Southwestern rug or blanket has ever rivaled the Native American blanket of the Navajo in popularity. Rugs were renowned items of Native American art throughout America even before the Revolutionary war!

Before 1900

Manufactured Southwestern rugs and Native American blanket designs began to replace true Native American Indian rugs and blankets around the turn of the century. Indeed, prior to 1900, it could be said that Native American Indians did not weave rugs, but wove blankets exclusively. The shift from Navajo blankets to rugs was necessitated by the times and facilitated by the traders. Because the native market for Native American blankets was disappearing, trading posts began to encourage Navajo rugs from the weavers; a heavier product than the Native American Blanket incorporating popular designs among Eastern tourists, No Indian trading post or Indian lodge was complete without a sprawling Southwestern area rug on the floor as part of its Southwestern decor.

Traders made sure that Easterners had access to rugs that could be displayed as an honest to goodness Native American Indian rug from the Wild West on the wall, or a real Southwestern area rug in the living room. Some enterprising traders began marketing their Southwestern area rugs in catalogs!

After 1900

Around 1900 the Navajo blanket transitioned to the Navajo rug and with each decade, this category of Southwestern rug has increased in beauty and technical excellence. Contemporary Southwestern rugs and antique blankets, both have their own unique appeal to collectors of Native American Indian rugs. The Cameron Trading Post endeavors to offer the finest of both authentic rugs and blankets, and contemporary Southwestern area rugs for the collector.

Navajo Southwestern rugs today are woven in the much the same way as their antique counterparts of the past. No pattern is used beyond that conceived in the weaver’s mind. The time once spent in shearing, carding, spinning, and dying the wool is often now regained in the use of pre-dyed wool that can be purchased in the trading posts. This yarn, after a few more spinnings, can be readily used allowing the weaver to spend more time in the complexity and sublimity of her design. The time saved also makes many of today’s Navajo and Southwestern area rugs more affordable. But many Navajo still prefer to shear their own sheep and make their own yarn and so that tradition remains.

Native American Indian rugs today are categorized by design into Southwestern area rug regions. Two Gray Hills are renowned for their fine weave of all natural wools. The Storm Pattern of Cameron’s regional Navajo rug is prized for its vibrant and powerful design symbolizing the beauty and fury of the storm. Vegetal dyes, many discovered or recovered in the last 50 years, lend their soft and pleasing pastels to the rugs of Crystal, Chinle and Wide Ruins. J.L. Hubbell, Indian trader at Ganado did much to revive Navajo weaving at the turn of the century and many of the Navajo rugs from that region still display the dark “Ganado red” as popular today as it was then. Browse our Ganado rug collection here.

No matter your regional preference, Southwestern area rugs of all regions are available at Cameron Trading Post. Navajo rugs, Southwestern rugs, antique rugs and Native American blankets can all be found here. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, just let us know and we’ll help you find it!

Navajo Rugs FAQs

How can you tell if a Navajo rug is real?

The easiest way to determine if you have a fake Navajo rug on your hands is to examine the ends to see if the warps were tucked back in, or if they are truly continuous. If they are tucked in, then every other warp area will have two threads. Also, if the rug has fringe at both ends that are extensions of the warps, then it’s not an authentic Navajo rug.

Why are Navajo rugs so expensive?

Navajo rugs are meticulously handmade using traditional techniques that have been passed down through many generations. Each rug can take weeks or even months to make, and the high quality wools used adds to the cost. Additionally, Navajo rugs are authentic works of art by Navajo artists that are often purchased by collectors, which drives up the price.

How do you clean a Navajo rug?

Cleaning a Navajo rug requires delicate care to ensure that the rug is not damaged. Avoid machine washing, steam cleaning, or ironing. To remove any loose dirt or debris, you can use a dry vacuum cleaner with a smooth floor attachment on a low suction setting. Don’t use water. For an overall cleaning, you can use a foam rug cleaner for wool rugs.

Shop Navajo Rugs Online

Other rugs you’ll find in our online store include Germantown rugs, Teec Nos Pos rugs, Yeis & Yei Be Chais rugs, and unique designs that don’t fit into a specific category of Navajo design.

Since we were first established in 1916, we have been committed to selling beautiful, historical, and genuine Native American art, pottery, baskets, sand paintings, fetishes, beauty products, clothing, decor, housewares, antiques, collectibles, and jewelry. If you’re looking for authentic Navajo rugs, look no further than the historic Cameron Trading Post!