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Navajo Style in Interior Design
Navajo Style in Interior Design Ralph Lauren graces the cover of Architectural Digest and House Beautiful, and shows the whimsical way he uses Navajo weavings to grace and embrace his home, using them as rugs on the floor, wall hangings, and across the back of a couch or chair.Top designers of today recognize the elegant beauty of the...

The First Step In Navajo Weaving - Carding & Spinning Sheep's Wool
Navajo weaving is both an art form and a labor of love. That’s because these highly-detailed rugs, blankets and weavings aren’t just for comfort; they tell an historic tale of a proud people through beauty and innovative creativity.The origin of these well-woven textiles may have been passed down in story from Spider Woman who taught the first...

History of Navajo Weaving
There are many tales and stories regarding the rich Navajo history in America. None may be more intriguing and exciting than that of Spider Woman. A deity that holds a special place in the Navajo culture, it is believed that she is the one that taught the Navajo to weave. It's said that the first loom was made from sky and earth cords, and th...

Navajo Land and People
Navajo Land and People A storied culture that began more than 500 years ago, the Navajo people got their name from the phrase Teva Navahu; which means “highly-cultivated lands.” This designation seems rather apt, especially given that we now know that they are widely considered the largest of all Native American Indian tribes in the world.More h...

Navajo Sandpainting Weavings
The 'Navajo Sandpainting Weaving'Preserves Tradition and Ceremony The Navajo Sandpainting Weaving is ranked among the Navajo tribe's best known and best loved art forms. The original Navajo dry painting is traditionally performed for religious or medicinal purposes; it is a sacred practice. Sandpaintings are used in ceremonies designed to sum...

Whirling Log or Swastika?
JB Moore Crystal with Whirling logs. Circa 1910-1920 The Whirling Log or sometimes referred to as a "falling log" or "swirling log", goes back thousands of years in human culture. One of the oldest symbols made by humans, the Whirling Log dates back some 6,000 years. Scholars generally agree it originated in India. In the Navajo culture th...

The Schoch First Phase Chief’s Blanket - By John O'Hern
The discovery of a Navajo masterpiece. By John O’Hern The weaving of wearing blankets is part of the Navajo (Diné) creation story, present in Navajo culture from the beginning. Spider Woman, who wove the web of the universe, taught the Navajo people to weave. She is present in their lives today, residing atop Spider Rock in Canyon de Chelly...

In-depth Descriptions of Navajo Rug Styles
There are more than 21 styles of Navajo design styles. In most cases they are based on specific designs from certain areas of the Navajo Nation. Bistie Burntwater Chief's Blankets Child's Blankets Chinle Crystal Eye Dazzler Ganado - Klagetoh Germantown JB Moore Moki Optical Pictori...

Deliberate Imperfection? You bet!
Intentional Flaw? Deliberate Mistake? Perfectly Imperfect? Recently a new collector inquired about how much would a weavings value and collectability be diminished if the weaver made a mistake in the mirror image of the design. The answer is zero. Navajo are deeply religious. They believe nothing is perfect, except for the Gods. They were g...

Don't Fall for a Knock Off Navajo Rug!
Oh, the thrill of stumbling across a beautiful weaving at a spectacular price. Here at Nizhoni Ranch some of our clients have interesting stories about coming across an estate sale, consignment shop, garage sale or auction house where they hit the jackpot or crapped out. Yet, the old adage "if something sounds to good to be true, it probably i...

What is My Rug Worth?
Here at Nizhoni Ranch Gallery we get our fair share of inquiries about Navajo rugs people have inherited from family members or picked up at a thrift show or estate sale. Most stories begin with something like "my grandmother bought a weaving from a trading post while vacationing in the Southwest". The main question we are asked is "what is...

How to Care for Your Navajo Weaving
How to Clean a Navajo RugAs both a work of art and a functional piece of décor, it’s essential that you maintain your American Indian textile with proper care and attentiveness. That’s why we want to give you a comprehensive list of ways to clean your Navajo Rug to extend its life and quality.Basic and Extended CleaningHere are just a few things...