Teec Nos Pos Navajo rug

By most accounts, the Navajo are the most prolific Native American weavers. While the indigenous peoples of the Southwest had been weaving with various vegetable fibers for generations, it was not until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century that wool and sheep were introduced. The American conquest of the region and the introduction of railroads in the 19th century served as a catalyst for new trade weavings. Navajo women, already expert weavers, were encouraged to weave floor coverings that could be used in American homes. Many early Navajo rugs incorporated borrowed designs from the Near East to make them more commercially viable. In time, an ever increasing number of indigenous iconography was introduced and new vitality entered the design pool. This Navajo rug was woven in the Teec Nos Pos community in Northeastern Arizona. Its bold graphic imagery is highly evocative and powerful.

Woven by noted weaver Ruth Yabeny