I had a particular passion for Navajo rugs in my career. We always had a policy not to deal directly with a reservation weaver unless she came to us. Dad, having grown up in a trading post, understood the economics of trading post activity. Each trading post was a micro economy on the reservation. Traders typically extended credit to families when a rug was on the loom. Upon completion the rug was used to satisfy an account, obtain jewelry, etc. For that reason we always respected traders' business by not going around them. Rugs are generally identified by the trading area from which they come. Prior to extensive road travel beginning in the 1970s, most weavers traded with their "resident" trader. Therefore, a Two Grey Hills was synonymous with the area around Two Grey Hills Trading Post. Bright red rugs were referred to as Ganado Reds. Yei Bei Chai (Yei's) were indigenous with the Shiprock/Waterflow area. I started handling rugs with my dad when I was six years old. By the time I could drive, I was on my own trading for rugs throughout the 27,000+ square mile reservation. For years we routinely handled over 6,000 rugs per year. The number began to diminish in relation to the number of active weavers. Younger people were less inclined to commit to weaving a quality rug that might be worth thousands of dollars. Usually it takes years for a weaver to become a great weaver and by that time many were getting up in age and having eyesight issues. There are some notable exceptions. The quality of a rug is determined by the tightness of the weave, straight edges, blending of color, design, and size. Size can be the least of the attributes. Some weavers are capable of smaller rugs that fetch higher prices than do larger rugs.
Gallup Indian Trading Co - 1952
Pictorial Bird Rug 24" x 32" Made in 2001 $900
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