Navajo Rugs are More Than Just Décor: They Tell a Story and Have a Legacy that Needs to be Preserved for Future Generations

“ Weaving instills in us a quest for beauty, a balance of energy, harmony, and acceptance of our current state from birth to old age—the beauty of the circle of life.” - How to Weave a Navajo Rug by Lynda Teller Pete and Barbara Teller Ornela

We live in a throwaway world where many objects are dispensable, replaceable, and treated with ill-considered nonchalance. However, in indigenous culture, possessions tend to hold more value as they serve more of a life-bringing purpose and hold deeper meaning. Navajo rugs created by the Navajo people of the Four Corners of the United States are significant to the culture, and like Native American jewelry, they tell a story. However, these rugs have endured not just because of their link to cultural beliefs, but because of their exquisite craftsmanship too. They are beautiful and functional and are a prized product of the American Southwest.

A Rich History Woven In Time

According to Britannica, the Navajo learned how to build looms from the Hopi people from as early as the 1500s when they settled in the southwest of America. After foregoing their semi nomadic lifestyle, they soon began to breed sheep to ensure a steady supply of wool. Initially the colors of the rugs were limited to black, grey, and white but the introduction of aniline dyes enabled the Navajo to make rugs in striking colors. Yarns of vivid hues were weaved into the rugs and blankets along with a wide range of decorative motifs. The motifs and traditional colors are used to this day and keeping these rugs in good condition has become something of an art form itself.

Caring For Navajo Rugs

While the tally of Navajo rug restorers is relatively low, quite a few admit to being motivated by the need to preserve the story and history of the Navajo people. Before the restoration process begins, it is important for a restorer to have some idea of how old the rug is because this often helps to determine materials that were used to create it. It is also helpful to determine the type of wool that was used: in the beginning, the Navajo people used ‘churro’ wool brought by Spanish explorers but later, sheep’s wool was used. Different breeds of sheep also help the restorer to date when the rug was woven.

The damaged area of the rug is placed on a frame to achieve uniformity in the degree of tension used when the rug was created. The restorer, using the same tools and methods of Navajo artists, then begins to re-weave the rug, emulating the style and pattern as closely as possible. Cleaning the rug prior to restoration is essential. According to professional carpet cleaners BSM, who've serviced the Bay Side area in California for over four decades, this is always a job for professional cleaners. The rug cleaning experts note that it’s very important to clean the rug with the right products. In other words, if you clean your rug with the incorrect products or techniques, the dyes may bleed, and you’ll do irreparable damage.

It’s important to preserve the historical and cultural significance of Navajo rugs by looking after them properly. They are an art form and tell a story, and they celebrate the Navajo legacy. By caring for them correctly and keeping them in good condition, future generations will recognize that we stand on the shoulders of those who preceded us and that their histories deserve respect and reverence.

By Kylee Carter