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Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Wool Rug

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Wool Rug
Featured in this lot is this Navajo Old Style Crystal wool rug circa mid-20th Century. Originally the Old Crystal Trading Post was established in 1894, in this remote part of the Navajo Reservation Southwest of Two Grey Hills and Northwest of Gallup. 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. J.B. Moore realized the rugs being woven on the reservation needed to be upgraded. He started paying more for the rugs with better workmanship and design. This caused the weavers in the area to produce better quality rugs. 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 rugs had an Oriental motif with multiple borders, large central medallions and numerous hooks. This wool rug features a wonderfully and professionally crafted Old Style Crystal design with a beige field, geometric patterns with pink, red, crimson, black, yellow, green and blue coloration, with yellow and black wool on the long axis borders, a large central medallion and numerous hooks. Corners are finished with black wool tassels. This wool rug is in good overall condition, weave is tight, no marring noted. Measurements are 28"W x 60"L