I-M-101 Navajo “Two Grey Hills”.
The Navajo are an Athabaskan speaking people belonging to the Nadene linguistic family and who also refer to themselves as the “Dene” which means the people. Like their close relations, the Apache, they migrated in ancient times from the far northern Canadian interior into what is now the southwestern United States. They have the largest reservation in the country, which is also their traditional homeland, encompassing parts of southeast Utah, northeast Arizona and northwest New Mexico. The Navajo first learned to weave from the Pueblo peoples and most likely got most of their sheep in raids on Spanish settlements. There are three basic periods to Navajo weaving, the classic blanket period (1800-1870), the transitional period (1870-1895) and the rug period (1895- present). This rug is from the most celebrated of Navajo trading posts, “Two Grey Hills”. As is typical of rugs from this region, the weaving is quite fine and done in all natural wool colors (a preference in this region). The pattern is quite interesting as it departs from the more common large central diamond motif.
A very handsome example with an uncommon design choice. 55 1/2"long by 38"wide. Circa 1945. $2,750.00