Antique & Vintage Navajo Rugs — Rare Weavings from the 1870s to 1940s

Antique and vintage Navajo rugs are among the most historically significant and collectible textiles in American art — and The Gordon Collection has been acquiring and curating exceptional examples since 1973. Our antique and vintage inventory spans the Late Classic, Transitional, and early Regional Style periods, from approximately the 1870s through the 1940s, offering collectors and design enthusiasts rare access to weavings that represent pivotal chapters in Navajo weaving history.

Each piece in this collection was handwoven by Navajo women using traditional vertical looms, with designs carried entirely in the weaver's mind — no sketches, no patterns, no mechanical aids. The 1870s–1900s transitional pieces reflect a remarkable cultural moment: weavers shifting from wearing blankets to floor rugs, experimenting with aniline dyes and Germantown yarns while preserving the geometric mastery of the Classic period. Later pieces from the 1910s through 1940s represent the fully developed regional styles — bold, confident, and deeply intentional.

Many of our antique and vintage weavings show the natural hallmarks of their age: areas of wear, surface variation, and color migration (known among collectors as abrash) that are not flaws but rather proof of authenticity and the passage of time. These characteristics are precisely what serious collectors seek. Sizes range from smaller accent pieces to large statement textiles, and condition varies by piece — full details and photographs are available upon request.

Whether you are building a collection, furnishing a home with investment-quality art, or seeking a museum-caliber textile for a wall installation, The Gordon Collection offers the expertise and provenance of over 50 years in the trade. Contact us for additional information, condition details, or photographs of any specific piece.