Navajo Rug Symbols

The open symbol has a different significance from the closed symbol.

Navajo rug symbols. Of the even numbers in navajo symbols 4 or one of its multiples is employed most frequently in laying down patterns which are expected to meet the approval of the gods. A colored photo of a southwestern rug practically jumped off the page of the pueblo chieftain classifieds in july and early august. The symbols found at such petroglyph sites were carved into sandstone walls many hundreds of years ago. The rug has whirling logs on it a sacred navajo symbol.

42 43 44 a design that is often found on the blanket is the bow fig. Female yai navajo rug circa 1930 we think that these beautiful weavings are a wonderful way to honor the spiritual beliefs of the navajos and to preserve traditional symbols and myths. These elements were incorporated into old wearing blankets and continue in the modern day navajo rugs. 42 43 44 figs.

The ganado and klagetoh style rugs continue to be made to this day and are among the most popular of all navajo rug designs. Perhaps two of the earliest design elements to be utilized by navajo weavers are the diamond and the triangle. Navajo weavers like anyone proud of their motherland would often capture elements of the four sacred mountains of the navajo homeland in their work. The navajo themselves didn t make use of chief s in their tribes but due to the status symbol it indicated the blankets were given this name and they re some of the most collectible of all navajo wovens.

Again we cannot be too sure of some of the meanings but many navajo grandmothers will tell you that the diamond is a symbol of the dinétah or. Moore who owned the trading post at crystal new mexico from 1897 1911 was another visionary trader who exercised enormous influence over early navajo rug design. The oldest surviving navajo rug is a so called massacre cave blanket dated to around 1804 when a group of navajo people seeking. Depicting the navajo homeland.

Some symbols can carry different meanings depending on the tribe. Again we cannot be too sure of some of the meanings but many navajo grandmothers will tell you that the diamond is a symbol of the dinétah or navajo homeland with its four sacred corners that are marked by the four sacred mountains. These elements were incorporated into old wearing blankets and continue in the modern day navajo rugs. Home navajo art navajo indian pictures navajo indian jewelry navajo rugs navajo history navajo culture navajo language navajo nation maps of navajo nation navajo indian.