Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2013-0003-0013   CAS 2013-0003-0013; Rug
Category Textiles
Object Name Rug
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Navajo
Other Geographic Data Navajo Indian Reservation; Community: Dinnebito
Maker's Name Betty Lou Begay
Date of Manufacture 1990
Collection Name N/A
Materials Warp: Single ply handspun natural wool; Weft: Single ply re-spun processed natural, carded, and dyed wool; Aniline dyes (red and black)
Description Rectangular Storm Pattern rug woven entirely in plain, weft-faced tapestry technique with interlocking joins; Center rectangular motif contains several concentric terraced diamond shapes in black, white, and two shades of gray, flanked along the sides by a vertical gray bars with feather like projections on a white background; This latter motif continues in terraced segments from each corner of the center motif toward each corner of the rug, where each terminates in smaller rectangular motif containing a miniature Navajo rug whose design consists of vertical columns of white, black, and gray triangles; Numerous other design units in black, white, and gray fill the remaining space of the design field, all on a red background; Entire design is framed on all four edges by an inner gray border and an outer black border, which are straight-edged along the ends of the rug and which form a reciprocating pattern of paired terraced triangles along the sides of the rug; Rug does not have selvage cords, but outermost warp is doubled; End cords are red.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 80.0, Length = 113.2