Teec Nos Pos Navajo Nation Rug, circa 1920s

This magnificent circa 1920's Navajo rug at approximately 4' x 6' is typical of rugs from the Teec Nos Pos area of the Navajo Reservation. The background color is predominantly gray formed from carding black and white sheep wool to achieve the tone desired by the weaver. There is an inner section where the background is predominately white.

The central design is a pair of zigzag bands like lightning bolts. Each of these has a golden-brown center which is outlined with white with a serrated edge. That, in turn, has a gray field and a black serrated border. Outlining the lightning element is a very faint serrated border in beige color. Between the two lightning panels are three diamond boxes containing simple designs. The interior gray field is punctuated occasionally with small design elements.

In traditional fashion, there are three borders enclosing the rug patterns. The outer border was woven from black wool. The black penetrates the next inner border with triangular points. Separating the outer and its adjoining border is a white line with triangular mountains. The middle border is a beautiful golden color. It is separated from the inner border by a strong red line, straight on the ends of the rug and pulsating on the sides of the rug. The innermost border appears as tuning sticks, connected in a line and floating on the gray background.

The designs for rugs from Teec Nos Pos were brought to the reservation by outsiders and influenced by the traders. Rugs were made to be sold, not used by the Diné, so the weavers followed instructions from the trader as to what to make. Pictures of Persian rugs were copied and given to the weavers to use as suggested patterns. The women adapted beautifully to these new design patterns.

Indian trader Bill Foutz, who operated a trading post at Shiprock, New Mexico, stated that the weavers were protective about their border designs and would be unhappy if some other weaver or some other family would use her border. This border was hers and nobody else was supposed to use it. Bill Foutz' dad, Russell Foutz, was noted for identifying the family of a rug by the border. Unfortunately, we do not have him here to identify the maker of this one.

This is an extraordinary rug from Teec Nos Pos with colors that blend with today's decor. Many Teec Nos Pos rugs and those from Red Mesa, are filled with bright colors, but this rug has very muted and soft colors.

Condition: very good condition for a textile of a hundred year age

Provenance: this Teec Nos Pos Navajo Nation Rug, circa 1920s is from the personal collection of a Santa Fe resident

Reference: Belikove, Ruth K. The Rugs of Teec Nos Pos Jewels of The Navajo Loom, Adobe Gallery, 1994.

TAGS: textiles, Navajo Nation