Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2013-0003-0030   CAS 2013-0003-0030; Rug
Category Textiles
Object Name Rug
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Apache
Other Geographic Data Navajo Indian Reservation; Community: Sanders
Maker's Name Winnie James (aka Martha Smith) (b. ca. 1940)
Date of Manufacture 1982
Collection Name Donaldson
Materials Warp: Single ply handspun natural wool; Weft: Single ply handspun natural and dyed wool; Vegetal dyes (9 colors)
Description Small rectangular Burntwater style rug woven entirely in plain weft-faced tapestry technique with non-interlocking joins; Design consists of a single large diamond in the center which is actually a series of concentric serrated or terraced diamonds in successive colors (light brown, white, tan, dark brown, blue-gray, dark pine green, light green, and gold) on a pale green background; Terraced white triangle fills each corner of the rug; Main design field is framed along all four edges by an inner pale mustard colored border that is outlined by a white, serrated border, all on a light brown outer border; A narrow band woven in the beading technique (dark brown and gold, edged in white and dark brown) extends across the width of the rug at each end; Selvage cords are brownish-green, and end cords are a darker green.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 70.5, Length = 99.8