Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2013-0003-0026   CAS 2013-0003-0026; 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 area; Community: Winslow
Maker's Name Geneva Shabi (Geneva Shabi Owens) (b. 1959)
Date of Manufacture ca. 1992
Collection Name N/A
Materials Warp: Single ply handspun natural wool; Weft: Single ply handspun (or re-spun processed) natural, carded, and dyed wool; Aniline dyes (black and dark brown)
Description Rectangular Wide Ruins style rug woven entirely in plain weft-faced tapestry technique with non-interlocking joins; Borderless, banded design consists of two alternating horizontal design bands (one is repeated 4 times, the other 3 times), each of which show a line of very small and intricately woven concentric serrated diamonds in black, white, several shades of brown, and two shades of gray; At each end of the rug is a band that is woven in the beading technique, using the same colors, on a light brown background; Selvage and end cords are dark brown. Geneva Shabi is the daughter of Marjorie Spencer, a well known weaver of Wide Ruins style rugs, whose work is also represented in the CAS Navajo textile collection. This rug was awarded a “Best in Class” ribbon in 1992 at the Navajo Nation Fair, Window Rock AZ.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 77.7, Length = 110.0