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Navajo Old Crystal Gallup Trading Post Rug c1950's

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:125.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 800.00 USD
Navajo Old Crystal Gallup Trading Post Rug c1950's
Featured in this lot is this Navajo Old Crystal Gallup trading post salesman sampler rug circa 1950's. The rug features a traditional Gallup decoration with the short fringe on the one side of the rug that features all the tassels present and shows a old crystal decoration with green coloration that is ended in dark grey border on the ends and all set to an off white field. The Old Crystal trading post was established in 1894, in a remote part of the Navajo Reservation southwest of Two Grey Hills and northwest of Gallup, NM. In 1896, J.B. Moore purchased an interest in the trading post and re-named it Crystal after a pure sparkling mountain spring that was in the area. Due to the remoteness of the Trading Post, he started using a mail order catalog to sell his rugs to the eastern market. The first catalog came out in 1903, with another in 1911. He left the reservation in 1911. During his stay at Crystal, he greatly influenced the change in styles of Navajo rugs being produced at the Crystal Trading Post. The thread count is 126 threads per square inch. The condition of this Navajo Gallup rug is good with no obvious signs of damage and shows good overall condition. The measurements of this rug are 17 1/2" x 17 3/4". Provenance: From the renowned Sundog Fine Art Bozeman, Montana collection and collected by Bruce VanLandingham. Bruce VanLandingham was a pillar in the American Indian collecting community and a respected expert. Along with being an avid collector, Bruce also was the sole owner of Sundog Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman, which was both part museum and gallery.