Surprisingly still made in a style that adheres to the art of traditional Mexico as well as to the area that is now the southwest United States long before the arrival of Europeans, these rugs are elegant, impressive and most often very expensive to own. Indian rugs are a beautiful touch to accentuate rustic and or traditional interior décor motifs.
The maker of a rug such as this must kneel in front of a vertical wooden-framed loom to begin the process of creating such a piece of art. The design comes info place using a little shuttle to weave colored threads together, making large-scale geometric designs.
Original Navajo rugs as well as those of some other Southwest Indian tribes were made of hand-spun cotton thread for a lovely overall look. However, once the region was introduced by the Spanish settlers to using the wool of domestic sheep the people primarily used wool for things.
Though Navajo rugs are the most famous weavings in North America, but they are certainly not the only ones that have made great influence. The Art of finger-weaving rugs, blankets, attire etc. has been a very important element of traditional style throughout the continent since ancient times. Finger-woven blankets, tapestries, and clothing are still made by many Native American tribes.
For example: the chilkat blankets of Tlingit people are one of the finest kinds of finger-woven Indian blankets available. In addition, Seminole sashes and Seminole patchwork designs are another important category of traditional Indian textile art. An even more recent tradition in American Indian Art is star quilts or blankets. These kinds of blankets actually originated from the Sioux tribes such as the Lakota, the Dakota, and the Nakoda/Assiniboine tribes, and then the designs, as a wonderful melding of cultural décor spread throughout the Great Plains.
Many of the crafting techniques Native Americans borrowed from European traditions were adapted and transformed into something else—unique to American Indian culture. Star quilts are made by piecing a mosaic of cloth diamond shapes into the traditional eight-pointed design of the morning star of the Sioux. Long before the development of star quilts there were many traditional Plains Indian blankets designed from painted, quilted and beaded buffalo hide.
There are still some Plains tribe artists who still make buffalo robes and blankets—but from the hide of buffalo born and raised in captivity. Buffalo were essential to many kinds of traditional Indian rugs and blankets. When buffalo herds were exterminated the entire craft, for the most part, died.
If you are searching for great Native American rugs, you likely want to purchase these rugs, quilts, or blankets that are not manufactured by American companies but that were actually made by Native Americans—it is likely very important to you that you purchase authentic, Navajo or other American Indian tribes. This is likely because you want to own authentic Indian Art, and/or to support the Native American people who market their rugs, blankets and other forms of art with your purchase.
I believe that it is very important that we, as Americans do not forget about the Native American culture that still exists today—and that we should do our best to support and help continue their traditions and, in effect, their livelihood.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on interior decor please visit Indian Rugs.
Source: www.ezinearticles.com
