Original Navajo weavings sourced from the reservations of New Mexico and Arizona. Navajo weaving developed from techniques learned from the Pueblo people following the Navajo settlement of the Southwest before 1400. The Navajo acquired churro sheep from Spanish settlers, providing a long-staple wool well suited to weaving, and developed a tradition of geometric pattern and colour distinct from other Southwestern textile traditions. Wool is hand-carded, spun and dyed before weaving begins on an upright loom, a process that can take months to years depending on the size and thread count of the piece. Regional styles developed across the Navajo Nation, among them Two Grey Hills, Wide Ruins, Ganado and Storm Pattern, each with distinct colour palette and geometric vocabulary. Every piece is one of a kind. There are no machine-made Navajo rugs and no reproductions in this collection.
